EP0258156B1 - Folding chair with an adjustable back and foot rest - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to armchairs, in particular for outdoor use, in which the footrest, pivotally carried by the front edge of the seat, is connected to the articulated backrest on the base, so that any changing the backrest angle causes a corresponding change to that of the footrest.

To shed light on the state of the art in this matter, mention may be made of document EP-A-0 172 116 (ALLIBERT) which shows a rest seat in which the seat is articulated on the front legs while the backrest pivots at the rear of said seat, a system of slides being arranged in the rear foot so that the modification of the orientation of the backrest, obtained using the armrests pivotally carried by the rear foot and cooperating selectively with the he upper end of the front leg ensures the corresponding modification of the orientation of the seat. At the front of the latter is pivotally mounted a footrest which carries two lateral connecting rods, the rear end of which is articulated on a corresponding arm extending the backrest downwards. This rear end is cut out of a longitudinal light with an arcuate profile in which the axis slides which operates the articulation of the envisaged connecting rod on the conjugated arm.

This arrangement allows the footrest to angularly follow the orientation changes imparted to the backrest and the seat by the user, while allowing, by moving the axes in the arched lights, the complete folding of the seat.

The object of the invention is to allow the realization of an armchair of the aforementioned type which, while being of simple and robust construction, is capable of being folded up in a small footprint for its transport, its storage or its storage. .

The chair according to the invention is essentially remarkable in that the rear end of each of the longitudinal connecting rods which, in the usual way, provide the connection between the backrest and the footrest is articulated on a pivoting crankpin which is not angularly linked to said backrest only in one direction of rotation, so as to remain free to pivot in the opposite direction when folding the entire seat.

• Fig. 1 est une vue de côté d'un fauteuil suivant l'invention, représenté à la position la plus redressée de son dossier.
• Fig. 2 reproduit fig. 1 à la position la plus inclinée du dossier.
• Fig. 3 est une vue en élévation du fauteuil par l'arrière.
• Fig. 4 est une vue en perspective à plus grande échelle montrant la partie arrière du fauteuil au niveau de la liaison articulée prévue entre le dossier et l'assise.
• Fig. 5 est une vue de côté analogue à celles de fig. 1 et 2, mais représentant le fauteuil en cours de repliage.

The appended drawing, given by way of example, will allow a better understanding of the invention, the characteristics which it presents and the advantages which it is capable of providing:

• Fig. 1 is a side view of an armchair according to the invention, shown in the most straightened position of its backrest.
• Fig. 2 reproduced fig. 1 at the most inclined position of the backrest.
• Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the chair from the rear.
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale showing the rear part of the chair at the articulated connection provided between the backrest and the seat.
• Fig. 5 is a side view similar to those of FIG. 1 and 2, but representing the chair being folded.

In all of the figures in the drawing, the reference 1 designates the seat base, the edges of which are articulated in 2 to the front legs 3 pivotally assembled in 5 to the rear legs 4 in order to define a base. foldable formed by two side struts braced, V-shaped open towards the ground. On the narrowed rear part of the seat 1 is articulated at 6 (cf. fig. 4) the base of the reclining backrest 7 which is supported by the rear legs 4 by means of two studs 8 projecting (shown in fig. 4 in the form of simple axis lines) slidably engaged in slides 4 a . These are made longitudinally in the inner wall of the rear legs 4, each slide 4 has at its upper end a transverse step suitable for retaining the corresponding stud 8 and maintaining the seat 1 in a substantially horizontal position, while allowing the folding of the chair.

The adjustment of the inclination of the backrest 7 and the immobilization of the latter at the chosen inclination are effected by means of the two armrests 9 articulated at 10 to said backrest 7. The face of each armrest 9 which is turned towards the bottom has a rack tooth clean to cooperate selectively with a fixed tooth provided on one or the other of the feet 3 or 4, above the assembly pivot 5 thereof.

This arrangement is well known in practice and it was moreover described in detail in the French patent application ^No. 86 04634 filed March 26, 1986 on behalf of the Applicant.

The chair also includes a footrest 11 pivotally carried at 12 by the front edge of the seat 1. Two longitudinal connecting rods 13 connect this footrest 11 to the backrest 7 so that any modification of the inclination of this the latter causes the tilting of said footrest which in the most straightened position of the backrest (fig. 1) is folded vertically below the seat 1, while in the inverted position of fig. 2 it is raised in the extension of this seat. The connecting rods 13 must also allow the entire seat to be folded up in a small footprint (cf. fig. 5), with the footrest 11 brought parallel to the seat 1.

To this end and as more particularly shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the rear end of each connecting rod 13, connected to the opposite connecting rod by a cross member 13 a , is pivotally assembled at 14 to a crank pin 15 which in the embodiment envisaged crosses a lumen 1 a of the seat 1 to come articulate on the corresponding pivot 6, between the two ears 1 b of said seat which carry this pivot. Each crankpin 15 is shaped to present a bearing or scope face 15 has adapted to cooperate with an upper stop 7 is provided on the back 7.

To explain the operation, we will start from the upright position illustrated in fig. 1. It is understood that when, by means of suitable operation of the immobilization armrests 9, the user intends to bring the chair to the lying position of FIG. 2 or at an intermediate position, the pivoting of the backrest 7 rearward causes, by the action of the stops 7a against the bearing faces 15a, the actuating rods 13 which therefore progressively falls under the footrest 11.

When, however, the chair must be brought back from the lying position of fig. 2 in the raised position of fig. 1 or to any intermediate position, there is obviously more positive action of the file 7 on the connecting rods 13, but the bearing surfaces 15 to remain in contact with the stops 7 has more weight in cantilever of the footrest 11 which is exerted on the connecting rods 13. The footrest 11 therefore follows in a way, by progressive folding down, the straightening of the backrest 7.

The unidirectional angular connection existing between the crank pins 15 and the backrest 7 and consequently between the latter and the footrest 11 also allows the folding of the chair in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. Indeed, during this folding, the crank pins 15, until this time oriented substantially in the extension of the backrest 7, are free to pivot (angle α) to come to orient themselves substantially perpendicular to the seat 1 and in the backrest 7, thereby authorizing the retraction of the connecting rods 13 and the complete folding of the footrest 11 which thus comes to orient itself parallel to the other elements of the seat.

The construction carried out in accordance with the invention and the use are very clearly simplified compared to known arrangements which most often use telescopic or sliding systems provided with a manual locking mechanism. Reliability is total.

It is understood that the mounting of the crank pins 15 and their actuation by the backrest 7 in a single direction of pivoting may differ from those envisaged above, provided that a unidirectional angular connection is obtained.

Claims (2)

1. Folding armchair with adjustable back and footrest, of the type in which the back (7) is connected to the footrest (11) by two longitudinal links (13) so that any change in the orientation of the back relative to the seat (1) produces a corresponding change in the orientation of the footrest, characterised in that the rear end of each of the links (13) is articulated on a pivoting lever arm (15), which is connected angularly to the chair-back (7) in only a single direction of rotation, in such a way as to remain free to pivot in the opposite direction when the chair as a whole is being folded.
2. Armchair according to claim 1, characterised in that each lever arm (15), carried by the seat (1), presents a supporting face (15a) able to cooperate with a corresponding stop (7a) provided on the chair-back (7).

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