CA2119618A1 - Roller mounted swing chair - Google Patents

Abstract

Roller mounted swing chair ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The swing chair has facing seats that in one mode, can swing or ''rock'' by rotational motion, in unison, via linkages on a secondary frame, while in a second mode, the seats can reciprocate by translational motion along the secondary frame on a main ground frame via tracks. The roller mounted swing chair assembly comprises in combination: (a) a main, ground-engaging frame; (b) an overlying secondary frame; (c) idle rollers, for rollingly supporting the secondary frame over the main frame for translational motion of the secondary frame in a reciprocating fashion; (d) at least one chair, including a fixed base part, anchored to the secondary frame thereover, a movable base part, a parallelogram linkage for mounting the movable base part to the fixed base part for relative swinging movement thereabout, and a chair carried by the movable base part; (e) a first locking bar, for releasably interlocking the secondary frame to the main frame, whereby the idle rollers become inoperative; and (f) a second locking bar, for releasably interlocking the movable base part to the fixed base part, whereby the parallelogram linkage becomes inoperative.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to swing chairs used outdoors for leisure.
BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Canadian patent No 131,543 issued in 1911 to Mr Frederick Seccial SPAULDING, discloses a swing chair with facing seats mounted on a secondary frame which in turn is mounted on a main frame via track so that the seats can rock back and forth.
United States patent No 1,550,635 issued in 1925 to Riehard Walter RIDLEY, and No 2,516,275 issued in 1950 to Amos M.
TOWE, disclose swing chairs having facing seats with the seats mounted on a frame that rolls bac]c and forth on rails. The seats, at the same time, are rocked via linkages. The seats roll in a straight line and there is no seleetivity in using the linkages or the rails.
United States patent No 2,439,632 issued in 1948 to Ernest and Florence RAMIREZ, discloses a roller mounted swing chair in which a pair of facing chairs 15, 15, are rocked concurrently with being reciproeated. This is enabled by the fact that each Z0 supporting wheel 18, which are axially carried by horizontal axles 20 to the chair supporting frame 12, rollingly engage a corresponding concave track race 4 or 5, as illustrated in figure 2 of this patent. Aceordingly, as the secondary open frame 12 (and associated chairs 15) is reciprocated (e.g. by the users whieh sit in chairs 15 pushing with its feet against the pallet 9 to reactively impart backward rotion oE the chair relative to the ~9~
intermediate pallet), the supporting wheel wlll progressively move upwardly along the inclined (concave) slope of the track race 4 or 5, thus further tilting the chair downwardly interiorly, i.e.
rocking the chair. It is understood that with the Ramirez patent, reciprocating chair motion is done concurrently with - and not alternatively to - rocking chair motion.
OBJECT OF THE INV~NTION
The gist of the invention is to provide a swing chair having two swinging modes that operate independently and alternately of one another: a first pivotal or rotational swinging mode, and a second rocking or translational mode.
8UMMARY OF T~E I~VENTION
In accordance with the object of the invention, thers is disclosed a roller mounted swing chair comprising: (a) first and second, open, planar, elongated, rigid support frames; (b) roller means, rollingly supporting said second frame spacedly over said first frame with said first frame adapted to flatly engage ground, wherein said second frame is movable and said first frame is fixed;
(c) at least one chair member, adapted to be mounted over said second support frame; and (d) rocking means, mounting said chair member to said second frame independently of said roller means, for relative rocking motion of said chair member; wherein upon said second frame being brought in a reciprocating rolling motion over said first fixed frame, said chair member will be brought in concurrent reciprocating motion therewith; and wherein actuation of said chair member rocking means is made independently of that of 2 1 ~
said roller means.
Preferably, frame lock means is provided, for releasably ! interlocking said first and second support frames, whereby said s roller means becomes inactivated; and \or releasable chair lock means, for temporarily deactivating said chair rocking means.
Advantageously, said first ground frame defines laterally opposite, parallel, first tracks having top races that rollingly support said roller means, said first tracks being upwardly concave for biasing said chair member in a reciprocating motion under gravity-borne forces upon said roller means being activated. Said second frame could then define laterally opposite, parallel, second tracks having bottom races that rollingly engage said roller means, said second tracks being downwardly concave whereby said first and second tracks cooperate in maintaining said chair member at a substantially constant horizontal displacement level during said reciprocating motion thereof. Stop means could further be provided, for preventing said rolling means from disengaging said first concave tracks at either of the raised opposite ends defined by said first concave track races.
Profitably, said rocking means includes a first base part, anchored to said second support frame, a second base part, anchored to and supporting said chair member, and parallelogram linkage means mounting said second base part to said first base part for relative motion of said second base part relative to said first base part whereby said chair member can be brought into rocking motion about an axis transverse to the direction of roller 2 ~ 1 8 . . .
means-induced rolling motion of said chair member.
In one embodiment of the invention, there could be two facing chair members spaced from one another at a fixed relative distance, said chair members reciprocating in unison upon said roller means being actuated; said first support frame defining ~ laterally opposite parallel tracks having top races; said roller3 means including a pair of one and another two-wheel axle carriages, ' the two wheels of said one carriage engaginy a first set of concave end sections on said track races and the two wheels of said second carriage engaging a second set of concave end sections on said I first track races on the opposite track end from said first set of concave sections; further including a platform member, fixedly anchored to an intermediate portion of said second frame located intermediate said first and second sets of concave sections of said track races; said platform member defining two opposite leading edges in facing register with the corresponding said chair members, wherein said platform member leading edges constitute carriage stop means in that said carriage comes in abutting register with said platform leading edges when either of said carriages reach an interior limit position at a raised interior end of said concave tracks, whereby said carriages cannot accidentally disengage from said first support frame tracks in a lengthwise direction.
Preferably, each of said first and second tracks is cross-sectionally quadrangular, said roller means including a two wheel a~le carriage with the wheels thereof engaging corresponding said first and second track races, each of said wheels being 2~9~
cylindrical with a radially outwardly extending flange on the interior edge thereof, said flange guidingly engaging the interior vertical wall defined by both the correspondingly underlying said first track and overlying said second track, these flanges preventing said wheels from accidentally disengaging laterally outwardly from said first track races.
It is envisioned-that the chair lock means consist of a rigid elongated bar member having means at opposite ends thereof for releasably anchoring respective said first and second base parts; and\or that the frame lock means consist of at least one extruded flat bar having means for releasably anchoring at one end the raised said platform member and for releasably anchoring at the opposite end thereof a free raised end of said second frame, said second frame free end being located opposite the corresponding said platform member leading edge.
Preferably, there is added a pair of guard members, each carried by a corresponding said second track and downwardly laterally outwardly depending therefrom down to substantially the level of a corresponding said first track but short of ground level, said guard members being provided for laterally shielding said carriage wheels against accidental engagement therewith of a person's foot to prevent personal injuries from that person's using the swing chair when he boards in or disembarks from the swing chair.

21~9~ 8 BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWING~
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the swing chair according to the ~ :;
preferred embodiment of the invention; ~ :
figure 2 is an end view of the swing chair illustrated in fig 1; ~:
figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken along line 3-3 of `~
figure 2;
figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views at an enlarged scale taken along lines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of fig 3;
fiyure 6 is an enlarged cross-section about line 6-6 of fig 2;
figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the side of a swing chair, suggesting how a roller engages the rail shown in phantom lines;
figure 8 is a view similar to figure 1, but in vertical section, suggesting how the bottom rollers are movable along the sloped rails;
figure 9 is a broken cross-section, at an enlarged scale, taken .along line 9-9 of figure 1; and figure 10 is an isometric view of the supporting rail frame, and of the rollers and platform forming the bottom members of the swing chair.
DETAILED DEæCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING8 The architecture of the swing chair assembly 20 is best understood upon looking at figures 1 and 8-10. The swing chair assembly 20 has a pair of facing chairs 22, 24, being supported over a secondary frame 26, while this secondary frame 26 is : 25 rollingly supported over a main, ground engaging frame 28. The ground-engaging main frame 28, best illustrated in fig 10, forms an .::
. , ,; .

21 ~18 .
open, rigid, tubular, quadrangular frame defining a pair of opposite straight cross-bars 30, 32, joined at their ends by a pair of spaced parall~l tracks 34, 36. Each track 34, 36, is of somewhat wavy shape, whereas, as clearly apparent from fig 8, some lower portions thereof engage the ground G while other portions thereof extend spacedly upwardly therefrom. More particularly, I each track 34, 36, defines four raised (i.e. spaced from ground) portions, namely 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d, and 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d, respectively. Portions 34a and 36a are at the transversely registering ends of the tracks 34 and 36 where cross-bar 30 is located, so that cross-bar 30 clears ground. Similarly, portions 34b and 36b are at the transversely registering ends of the tracks 34 and 36, respectively, where cross-bar 32 is located, so that cross-bar 32 also clears ground. Two transversely registering portions 34c, 34d and 36c, 36d, respectively, are further defined about a lengthwisely spaced intermediate section of the tracks 34, 36, whereby three opposite, concave, upwardly facing track race sections 38a~38b-38c and 40a-40b-40c, respectively, are defined.
Transversely registering symmetric races 38a, 40a are engaged by the two opposite idle rollers 42, 44, of a first carriage 46; while transversely registering symmetric races 38b, 40b, are engaged by the two opposite idle rollers 48, 50, of a second carriage 52.
Each carriage 46, 52 is adapted to freely roll over the races 38a, 40a and 38b, 40b respectively. A platform 54 is further provided, being supported spacedly over the tracks races 38c, 40c, between intermediate raised track portions 34c, 36c and 34d, 36d, by a 2 1 ~
number (e.g. three as illustrated) of transverse support bars 56.
Cross-sectionally Z-shaped spacer bars 56 are anchored both to the platform 54 and to the intermediate raised track portions 34c, 36c and 34d, 36d, respectively, by bolts 60, 62, (see fig 6). Thus, carriages 46, 52 are each movable relative to the fixed platform 54. As suggested in figure 9, the carriages 46, 52, are wider than the platform 54, so that the supporting wheels 4~, 44, 48 and 40 clear same during rolling motion over the ground frame track races.
Most preferably, each roller 42, 44, 48 and 50 is cylindrical and includes on its interior edge a radially outwardly extending annular flange (e.g. 48a as shown in fig 9), to prevent ~ -the ro]lers from disengaging from the tracks 34, 36.
A secondary, open, quadrangular, tubular frame 64 is further provided over the main open frame 36, and including a pair of opposite straight cross-bars 66, 68, joined at their ends by a pair of spaced parallel tracks 70j 72. Each track 70, 72, is of somewhat wavy shape, with track 70 abutting against and being supported by idle rollers 42, 48, while track 72 abuts against and is supported by idle rollers 44, 50. As suggested in figs 8-9, the distance between tracks 70, 72, is larger than the width of platform 54, so the latter does not hamper relative motion of the former. ~
As clearly shown in figure 6, the tracks 70, 72, of the secondary frame 26 form a mirror ima~e of the underlying tracks 34, ~, . . -36, of the main frame 28, i.e. a concavo-concave arrangement is achieved. Such an arrangement will enable the maintaining of a .'s,:

-`" 2 1 ~
level (i.e. no accidental up and down shudders) rolling motion of the raised secondary frame 26 over the main ground frame 28, as suggested by the arrows in figure 8, provided rollers 42, 44, remain within concave track rack sections 38b, 40b, and provided rollers 48, 50, remain within concave track race sections 38a, 40a. This will occur since the chair supporting secondary frame 26 will not be allowed to completely release the ground frame 28, because of stop means. These stop means consists of the fore and aft edges 54a, 54b of the platform 54. Indeed, as one carriage 46 or 52 (fig 10) moves toward the corresponding platform edge 54a or 54b, the wheel axle will eventually come to bear against this platform edge - being at the same yeneral level - thus precluding further motion in that direction. In any event, the concavity of the track races (e.g. 38a, 40a for wheels 42, 44) should normally keep the carriages 46, 52, short of the opposite raised ends 36a, 36e, and 34a, 34c of theee track races, due to the greater level of physical effort required of the swing chair user to reach such a position.
Each swing chair 22, 24, includes a pair of laterally opposite roughly C-shape fixed base parts, 74, 74 which are fixedly anchored in upright condition at their ends to the two upper traeks 70, 72. A pair of movable G-shape base parts 76, 76 are connected at their intermediate seetions to the intermediate seetion of the lower respective base parts 74, 74 by a parallelogram linkage means, 78, for relative movement thereabout. A ehair member 22, 24, is anchored at each of its seat and backrest portions to each : ' '~ ','' '~,'"' -- ` 2 1 ~
of the two opposite raised end portions 76a, 76b, of the movable base parts 76, 76.
The parallelogram linkage arrangement 7B is best illustrated in figs 3, 4 and 5, with the swinging play of the chair . 5 being suggested by the phantom lines in fig 3. Each parallelogram linkage means 78 - one on each lateral side of the chair member 22 or 24 - includes two pairs of elongated link arms 84, 84, and 86, 86 (being molded by injection molding), the links 84 and 86 being upwardly outwardly divergent from one another. In figure 4, link 3 10 78 is located intermediate of exterior tube 76 and interior tube 74. The bottom end of link 78 is pivotally mounted to a registering section of tube 76 by an exteriorly projecting transverse bolt 79, and spaced from one another by a conical spacer member 92 for relative motion therebetween. The top end of link 78 is in turn pivotally mounted to a registering section of tube 74 by an interiorly projecting transverse bolt 81, and spaced from one another by a conical spacer member 88. The pair of link arms 78, 78, at opposite lateral sides of the chair 22 or 24 are pivotally ¦ interconnected at their intermediate section by a full length connector bar 96.
I The front and rear elements of the parallelogram linkage , ~ ~:
means 7B could be identical, and would remain fully functional. -~
However, it is not desirahle, although it remains operational, to have a full length support bar 96 extending ahead of the chair 22 j~3 or 24, since this would prevent the user from bringing his feet beneath the seat part of the chair. For this reasons, figure 5 , 7 2 ~
!
discloses a slightly mo~ified version of the parallelogram linkage elements from figure 4. More particularly, link 86 in figure 5 is pivotally connected to the interior tube 74 by a yoke member including a short interior link arm 87, a short transverse cylindrical pivot shaft 98 pivotally interconnecting the bottom end of the interior link 86 to an intermediate section of the exterior link 78, and a bolt 90 pivotally interconnecting the top ends of links 86 and 87. A reinforcing triangular stay 77 is further provided integral to link 86 at figure 5, to support pivotal sleeve 98 against compression loads. Cylindrical (rather than conical) spacer members are shown to be provided around top bolt 90 and bottom bolt 79, between link 86 and tube 76.
It is understood that ball bearing assemblies should be provided at each pivot axis 84, 92 of link 78 and at each pivot axis 94, 98, 90 of link 86.
Figures 3 and 7-8 show the swing locking means 106 for temporarily interlocking the fixed base part 7~ to the movable base part 76, whereby the swinging (rotational) mode of the swing chair 22 or 24 can be inactivated. More particularly, swing lock means 106 consists of an extruded arm 108 with a notch 108a, 108b, at the underface of the opposite ends thereof. Arm 108 is of such a length that notches 108a, 108b, may come in concurrent vertical register with sections of connector rods 102 and 104, for engagement into the notches. Indeed, as suggested by the relative play (in phantom lines in figure 3) of the fixed and movable base parts 74, 76, of the chair members 22 or 24, the straight distance 2 ~ 1 8 between the connector rods 102 and 104 varies with the angular position selected for the chair member. Thus, if this distance between rods 102 and 104 becomes temporarily fixed, the chair cannot swing (rotatively); this is what happens when arm 108 interlocks at its notches 108a, 108b, with connector rods 102, 104.
Figures 6 and 10 suggest how the rock locking means 110 can be used for temporarily interlocking the raised secondary frame 26 with the platform 54 (and thus indirectly to the lower ground-engaging frame 28), so that the rocking (translational) mode of the swing chair be inactivated. More particularly, rock locking means 110 consists of a pair of elongated bars 112 (one pair for each chair 22, 24), with a transverse finger 112a at one end and an eyelet 112b at the opposite end. Each cross-bar 66, 68, of the secondary frame 26 includes a top inturned horizontal flange (e.g.
66a in fig 6), and a pair of opposite through-bores 66b, 66b, for engagement by the transverse fingers 112a of corresponding locking bars 112 disposed in parallel fashion. Moreover, the platform 54 includes a few short cylindrical studs 114, which downwardly project from the peripheral fore and aft edges of the platform 54.
Zo The eyelet end 112b of the locking bar 112 is frictionally engageable through a selected stud 114 closest to the selected through-bore 66b being engaged by the locking bar finger 112a.
Hence, when lock bar 112 engages bore 66b and stud 114, this means that the movable secondary frame 26 becomes anchored to the platform 54; and since platform 54 is itself anchored to the main fixed frame 28, this means that the secondary frame 26 becomes ;
7~ 2 ~ g temporarily integral to the main frame 28, so that no rocking ~ (translational) motion of the chair is possible.
;~ It is understood that, according to the heart of the present invention, the swing lock means 106 and the rock locking means 110 may be activated in an alternate fashion, i.e. that when swing lock means 106 is in operative locking condition, the rock :. ~
locking means 110 is in inoperative unlocking condition, whereas when the swing lock means 106 is in operative locking condition, the rock locking means 110 is in operative locking condition. This arrangement therefore provides a direct control by the person using the swing chair over the selected mode: swing, or rocking, or swinging and rocking motion. There are thus three modes available to the discriminating user.
A sun shade canopy 120 is preferably supported in overlying fashion over both chairs 22, 24, by upright legs 122, 124, which legs are anchored at their bottom ends via inclined link bars 125 (fig 2) to the cross-bars 66, 68 of the secondary frame 26. Moreover, platform 54 could support an integral picnic table 126, for the convenience of the swing chair users.
Preferably, and as suggested in figure 9, the~lateral side tubings 70, 72, of the secondary frame 26 each carries an extruded guard panel 130, which downwardly outwardly depends therefrom spacedly from the rollers 42, 48 or 44, 50. Each guard panel 130 extends along the whole length of tubes 70, 72, and are anchored thereto by a few horizontally extending bolts 132. The . . :
guard panels 70, 72, are roughly L-shape in cross-section, but with `~

:

2 ~ 8 laterally outwardly offset lower wings 130a (in transverse register with the rollers) and with inturned lips 134a, 134b at opposite top and bottom lengthwise edge portions thereof. Guard panels 70, 72, extend well beneath the secondary frame 26, yet short of ground level G. The purpose of guard panels 70, 72, is to substantially prevent a person's foot from engaging over the track races of the ground frame 30 and sustaining injuries from the rollers 42, 44, 48, or 50, accidentally rolling thereover.
The various structural elements of the present invention could be made of any suitably rigid, preferably low-cost material, e.g. a plastic material such as PVC; the wheel guard members 130 would be particularly well suited for PVC, since they can be desirably extruded as shown in figure 9 of the drawings. The load-bearing structural elements should obviously be reinforced, e.g.
15with a metallic lining; as with the lock members 106 and 112. The tracks of the two support frames, 26, 28, and particularly the ground tracks 34, 36, should be of metallic or other strong material, as with the two wheel axle carriages 46, 52.
For aesthetics, the platform 43 could be made from a wooden material, although plastic would be satisfactory. The overlying canopy 120 could be made from fabric, although the canopy as such is a non essential part of this invention.
; It is understood that the two generally planar talthough wavy) frames 26, 28, are roll-formed, prefera~ly of steel construction, and consisting of mechanical tubings preferably of quadrangular cross-section.

Claims (13)

The embodiments of the invention for which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed, are defined as follows:

1. A roller mounted swing chair comprising:
(a) first and second, open, planar, elongated, rigid support frames;
(b) roller means, rollingly supporting said second frame spacedly over said first frame with said first frame adapted to flatly engage ground, wherein said second frame is movable and said first frame is fixed;
(c) at least one chair member, adapted to be mounted over said second support frame; and (d) rocking means, mounting said chair member to said second frame independently of said roller means, for relative rocking motion of said chair member;
wherein upon said second frame being brought in a reciprocating rolling motion over said first fixed frame, said chair member will be brought in concurrent reciprocating motion therewith; and wherein actuation of said chair member rocking means is made independently of that of said roller means.

2. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 1, further including frame lock means, for releasably interlocking said first and second support frames, whereby said roller means becomes inactivated.

3. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 1, further including releasable chair lock means, for temporarily deactivating said chair rocking means.

4. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 1, further including frame lock means, for releasably interlocking said first and second support frames whereby said roller means becomes inactivated, and releasable chair lock means, for temporarily deactivating said chair rocking means; wherein said frame lock means and chair lock means operate independently of one another.

5. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 1, wherein said first ground frame defines laterally opposite, parallel, first tracks having top races that rollingly support said roller means, said first tracks being upwardly concave for biasing said chair member in a reciprocating motion under gravity-borne forces upon said roller means being activated.

6. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 5, wherein said second frame defines laterally opposite, parallel, second tracks having bottom races that rollingly engage said roller means, said second tracks being downwardly concave whereby said first and second tracks cooperate in maintaining said chair member at a substantially constant horizontal displacement level during said reciprocating motion thereof.

7. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 6, further including stop means, for preventing said rolling means from disengaging said first concave tracks at either of the raised opposite ends defined by said first concave track races.

8. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 1, wherein said rocking means includes a first base part, anchored to said second support frame, a second base part, anchored to and supporting said chair member, and parallelogram linkage means mounting said second base part to said first base part for relative motion of said second base part relative to said first base part whereby said chair member can be brought into rocking motion about an axis transverse to the direction of roller means-induced rolling motion of said chair member.

9. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 1, wherein there are two facing chair members spaced from one another at a fixed relative distance, said chair members reciprocating in unison upon said roller means being actuated; said first support frame defining laterally opposite parallel tracks having top races;
said roller means including a pair of one and another two-wheel axle carriages, the two wheels of said one carriage engaging a first set of concave end sections on said track races and the two wheels of said second carriage engaging a second set of concave end sections on said first track races on the opposite track end from said first set of concave sections; further including a platform member, fixedly anchored to an intermediate portion of said second frame located intermediate said first and second sets of concave sections of said track races; said platform member defining two opposite leading edges in facing register with the corresponding said chair members, wherein said platform member leading edges constitute carriage stop means in that said carriage comes in abutting register with said platform leading edges when either of said carriages reach an interior limit position at a raised interior end of said concave tracks, whereby said carriages cannot accidentally disengage from said first support frame tracks in a lengthwise direction.

10. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said first and second tracks is cross-sectionally quadrangular, said roller means including a two wheel axle carriage with the wheels thereof engaging corresponding said first and second track races, each of said wheels being cylindrical with a radially outwardly extending flange on the interior edge thereof, said flange guidingly engaging the interior vertical wall defined by both the correspondingly underlying said first track and overlying said second track, these flanges preventing said wheels from accidentally disengaging laterally outwardly from said first track races.

11. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 8, further including releasable chair lock means, for temporarily deactivating said parallelogram linkage means, said chair lock means consisting of a rigid elongated bar member having means at opposite ends thereof for releasably anchoring respective said first and second base parts.

12. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 9, further including frame lock means, for releasably interlocking said first and second support frames whereby said roller means becomes inactivated, said frame lock means consisting of at least one elongated rigid rod having means for releasably anchoring at one end the raised said platform member and for releasably anchoring at the opposite end thereof a free raised end of said second frame, said second frame free end being located opposite the corresponding said platform member leading edge.

13. A roller mounted swing chair as defined in claim 6, wherein said roller means includes a two wheel axle carriage with each wheel rollingly engaging over a corresponding first track race and rolling supporting a corresponding second track race; and further including a pair of guard members, each carried by a corresponding said second track and downwardly laterally outwardly depending therefrom down to substantially the level of a corresponding said first track but short of ground level, said guard members being provided for laterally shielding said carriage wheels against accidental engagement therewith of a person's foot to prevent personal injuries from that person's using the swing chair when he boards in or disembarks from the swing chair.