EP0486547B1

EP0486547B1 - Lounger

Info

Publication number: EP0486547B1
Application number: EP19900911898
Authority: EP
Inventors: Josephus Petrus Maria Westerburgen
Original assignee: Lawn Comfort SA
Current assignee: Lawn Comfort SA
Priority date: 1989-08-11
Filing date: 1990-08-09
Publication date: 1994-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-09
Also published as: WO1991001667A1; EP0486547A1; DE69007110D1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lounger comprised of: a) a first part, consisting of a lying or seating part (2), b) a second part, consisting of a backrest (3) or leg rest which is hinged to the first part, one of the parts being connected to a first toothed segment (12) which interacts with a second toothed segment (13) which is connected to the other part and is pushed towards the first toothed segment by spring force. The second toothed segment is coupled to a cam (20) which is movable between two positions: a first position where the two toothed segments are locked while in mesh and a second position where the second toothed segment can be pushed away from the toothed segment against the spring force.

Description

The invention relates to a lounger comprising

a) a first part, consisting of a lying or seating part,
b) a second part, consisting of a backrest or leg rest which is hinged to the first part,

Such a lounger is known from the German Offenlegungsschrift 2.728.022.
The lounger according to this Offenlegungsschrift, too, employs meshing toothed segments that are connected to the first and the second part of the lounger and that are mutually locked in a first position and that are completely disengaged from each other in a second position so that the one part can be readjusted in relation to the other and subsequently locked again.
Locking and unlocking of the toothed segments is effected by operating a handle which co-operates with an eccentric cam. With this lounger the toothed segments come completely clear of each other in the second position, whereupon the backrest, for instance, can be readjusted in relation to the seat without any hindrance.
In order to prevent the backrest from suddenly fully relcining as a result of the toothed segments being fully disengaged from each other, a spring has been provided, urging the backrest in the most upright position. This spring is necessary in order to avoid that the backrest, after disengaging of the toothed segments, being allowed to make uncontrolled movements with respect to the reminder of the lounger, but otherwise constitute an element which makes the construction and assembly of the chair more complicated.
The object of the invention is to provide a lounger as described in the opening lines that overcomes the disadvantages mentioned.
In the invention this is accomplished in that the first and second toothed segments are resiliently urged into engagement with each other, by an spring member and that in the second position of the cam, the two toothed segments can be disengaged from each other against the force of the spring member by rotating the one part with respect to the other parts.
In the second position, or, in other words, the unlocked position, in the embodiment according to the invention, the toothed segments do not entirely disengage from one another but some force must be exerted by, for instance, pushing one's back against the backrest so as to tilt the backrest or by pulling the backrest with one or both hands to place it in upright position.
In the embodiment according to the invention, when the toothed segments are in unlocked position, the backrest is prevented from moving by gradity forces only and, so, the risk of accidents is avoided.
Readjustment is now effected in a safe manner and can take place from the lying or seated position.
In US patent specification 4801177 there is disclosed a lounger according to introductory part. In this known construction the two toothed segments are urged against each other by means of a spring, disengaging being done by pressing the one toothed segment from the other against the spring force, by actuating a press button. In this case the two elements of the lounger are completely disengaged, with the risk of suddenly moving of one part to the other.
According to the invention, the teeth of the toothed segments are shaped in such a way as to ensure that, when the cam is in the second position and the one part is rotated with respect to the other part, the second toothed segment is pushed away from the first toothed segment against the force of the spring member. When the one part is readjusted relative to the other the teeth of the second toothed segment move jerkily, as it were, over those of the first toothed segment. As a result, on unlocking the toothed segments, the backrest cannot of its own accord fold down to the fully reclined position since, as mentioned earlier, some force needs to be exerted for readjustment.
The embodiment according to the invention affords a safe manner of changing the position of the lounger.
The angle of inclination of the tooth flanks to the line connecting the tips of the teeth lies between 30 and 85 degrees.
The tips of the teeth are radiused so as to further facilitate the teeth of the toothed segments to clack past one another when the position of the lounger is changed.
The cam for locking and unlocking the toothed segments is eccentrically linked to the second toothed segment.
Preferably, the lounger is provided with a cam on both sides, both cams being fitted with operating hand grips. The cams at both sides of the lounger are connected to each other by means of a through-going shaft so that the position can be changed from either side.
In the embodiment according to the invention, the first toothed segment is integral with the first or the second part of the lounger. Preferably, the lounger is manufactured in a plastics material.
Other characteristics and advantages will be evident from the following description with reference to the attached drawings.
Herein is:

Fig. 1 a side elevation of a lounger according to the invention fitted with an adjusting mechanism located within the area indicated by the dotted line I;
Fig. 2 a rear elevation of the lounger according to fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a schematic side elevation along line II-II in fig. 2 of the adjusting mechanism with the toothed segments in locked position; and
Fig. 4 a schematic side elevation of the adjusting mechanism along the line II-II with the toothed segments in unlocked position.

The lounger 1 shown in fig. 1 comprises a seat 2 to which are hinged a backrest 3 and a leg rest 4 via hinges 5 and 6, respectively.
The lounger is further provided with folding supports 7, 8 and 9 and hinged arm rest parts 10 and 11, which are also hinged to the back rest 3 and the seat 2, respectively.
The adjusting mechanism is located within the area indicated by the dotted line I in fig. 1. In this case, an adjusting mechanism is fitted on both sides of the lounger, as will appear from the following.
The adjusting mechanism is substantially accommodated in U-shaped reinforcing sections along the sides of the seat 2; the reinforcing sections are open on the outside.
Fig. 2 shows the rear elevation of the lounger. The parts have the same reference numbers as those in fig. 1 except that they are accentuated.
Fig. 3, the side elevation along line II-II in fig. 2, is a schematic representation to a larger scale of the construction of the adjusting mechanism.
To the backrest 3 is rigidly connected a first toothed segment 12 and a second springing toothed segment 13. Toothed segment 13 forms part of an element 14, which can rotate around a pin 15, which is connected as a fixed point to the seat 2, which is schematically represented by line III. Element 14 ends in a resilient ear 16 which at its extremity is arrested by stop pin 17 connected to the seat 2. The springing ear 16 is integral with the element 14. The element 14 is further provided with a recess 18 with an inner wall 19. Within the recess is located a rotatable cam 20, which is eccentrically placed on a shaft 21 connected to the seat 2.
Handgrips 27 and 27' may be fitted onto the cams 20 (see figures 1 and 2).
Backrest 3 is readjusted as follows. It is first pointed out that the readjusting mechanism is designed so that, when the element 14 with the springing ear 16 is in the central position, toothed segment 13 is in full mesh with toothed segment 12 as shown in fig. 3.
In fig. 3, the cam 20, in the position as drawn, acts in concert with the inner wall 19 of recess 18 so that the longer eccentric side 22 of the cam with its free end 23 is firmly pushed against the element 14 so that the toothed segments are meshed and locked. In this position it is not possible to readjust the backrest 3 around hinge 5 in relation to the seat 2.
When the cam 20 is moved to the position shown in fig. 4 enough clearance will be created between the cam 20 and the element 14 for toot d segment 13 to be pushed clear of toothed segment 12 against the spring force of ear 16 when the backrest 3 is moved around the hinge 5. During readjustment, the teeth successively jump one tooth elative to each other. The teeth are shaped so that, when the cam 20 is in the position shown in fig. 4 and the backrest 3 is readjusted, the toothed segment 13 is pushed clear of toothed segment 12.
The angle of inclination of the tooth flanks to the line connecting the tips of the teeth lies between 30 and 85 degrees.
The tooth flanks on one side have the same angle of inclination as those on the other side.
Cam 20 is eccentrically coupled to the toothed segment 13. A cam may be provided on both sides of the lounger. Operating handgrips may be fitted to the cams. The cams may be connected to one another by means of a through-going shaft so that the lounger may be readjusted from either side.
The toothed segment 12 may be integral with the backrest 3.
Preferably, the lounger is manufactured in plastic and is, thus, especially suited as a garden lounger.
In readjusting the backrest, when the cam 20 has been moved to the position shown in fig. 4, some force needs to be exerted on the backrest 3 in order to push the toothed segment 13 clear of the toothed segment 12 against the spring force. Consequently, on unlocking the toothed segments, it is not possible for the backrest to recline under its own weight. The method of readjusting the backrest according to the invention prevents accidents and affords a safe manner of readjusting the backrest without the need for the user to rise from the lounger.

Claims

Lounger comprising
a) a first part (2), consisting of a lying or seating part,

b) a second part (3,4), consisting of a backrest or leg rest which is hinged to the first part,
one (3) of the parts being connected to a first toothed segment (12) which interacts with a second toothed segment (13) which is connected to the other part (2), the second toothed segment (13) being coupled to a cam (20) which is movable between two positions: in the first position the two toothed segments (12,13) being locked together, characterized in that the first and second toothed segments (12,13 ) are resiliently urged into engagement with each other, by an spring member (16) and that in the second position of the cam (20), the two toothed segments (12,13) can be disengageg from each other agains the force of the spring member (16) by rotating the one part (3) with respect to the other parts (2).
Lounger according to claim 1, characterized in that the teeth of the toothed segments are shaped in such a way as to ensure that, when the cam (20) is rotated with respect to the other part, the second toothed segment (13) is pushed away from the first toothed element (12) against the force of the spring member (16).
Lounger according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle of inclination of the tooth flanks to the line connecting the tips of the teeth lies between 30 and 85 degrees.
Lounger according to claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the teeth flanks on either side have the same angle of inclination.
Lounger according to claims 2-4, characterized in that the tips of the teeth are radiused.
Lounger according to one claims 1-5, characterized in that the cam (20) is eccentrically linked to the second toothed segment (13).
Lounger according to one of the claims 1-6, characterized in that it is provided with a cam (20) on each side.
Lounger according to one of the claims 1-7, characterized in that the cams (20) are fitted with operating handgrips (27,27').
Lounger according to claim 7 or 8 characterized in that the cams (20) on both sides of the lounger are connected by means of a through-going shaft (26) so that the lounger can be readjusted from either side.
Lounger according to one of the claims 1-9, characterized in that the first toothed segment (12) is integral with the first (2) or the second part (3,4).
Lounger according to one of the claims 1-10 characterized in that it is manufactured in plastics material.