EP1736077B1

EP1736077B1 - Relaxation chair

Info

Publication number: EP1736077B1
Application number: EP20050013616
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Carrera
Original assignee: CIAR SpA
Current assignee: CIAR SpA
Priority date: 2005-06-23
Filing date: 2005-06-23
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-23
Also published as: DE602005015944D1; EP1736077A1; ES2327744T3

Description

The invention relates to a relaxation chair with a seat, a back rest and a foot rest, wherein the seat and the back rest as well as the seat and the foot rest are pivotably connected to one another, and with a support with at least one foot, wherein the seat, back rest, foot rest and support co-operate in such a way that the relaxation chair can be moved by the user from an upright position with the foot rest retracted into a reclining position with the foot rest extended.
A relaxation chair is known from WO-A1-2004/034849 in which the seat is rigidly fixed on a support and the back rest as well as the foot rest are pivotably attached in such a way that a movement of the back rest from an upright position into a position in which it is inclined backwards causes the foot rest to be extended. In this case the mechanism has two telescopic elements, so that the foot rest is not only folded out but is also simultaneously lengthened..
The mechanism known from EP-B1-0 680 713 has a seat which is mounted so that it can swivel on a support. The back rest and the foot rest are pivotably articulated on the seat. Furthermore, transmission levers which delimit the pivoting movement of the seat and the back rest are provided between the back rest and the support. In addition actuating bars are provided between the back rest and the foot rest, so that an inclination of the back rest relative to the seat causes the foot rest to be retracted or extended.
US-A-2,850.078 and DE-U1-20 2004 016 889 disclose a chair with a back-rest coupled to a seat and a foot-rest. The seat is displaceably retained on a support. Furthermore between the foot-rest and the support an actuating bar is provided which extends or retracts the foot rest when the seat is displaced relative to the support.
A reclining furniture item corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US-A-5,823,614 including a reclining mechanism employing a roller and track system.
The object of the invention is to make further improvements to the relaxation chair so that a very simple and economical design and an extremely comfortable moving mechanism is ensured.
According to the invention this object is achieved by the features of Claim 1.
Further embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the subordinate claims.
In a preferred embodiment the fixing of the foot rest on the seat and/or by means of the actuating bar on the support is releasable so that - for transport purposes - the seat and the back rest can be folded together. According to a preferred embodiment the actuating bar is releasably fixed on the support and/or on the foot rest so that - for transport purposes - the seat with foot rest and the back rest can be folded together.
The displacement of the seat relative to the support can be released for example by a suitable slot/lug connection. In a preferred embodiment the seat is retained on the support by means of rollers.
Furthermore, spring means can be provided between the support and the back rest in order to support the movement of the chair in a suitable manner.
Further advantages and embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the description of an embodiment.
In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view of the relaxation chair in an upright position,
Figure 2 shows a side view of the relaxation chair in an intermediate position,
Figure 3 shows a side view of the relaxation chair in a reclining position,
Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional representation of the relaxation chair,
Figure 5 shows a side view of the relaxation chair with a spring element,
Figure 6 shows a side view of the relaxation chair with released actuating bars, and
Figure 7 shows a side view of the relaxation chair folded together into the transport position.

The relaxation chair illustrated in Figure 1 to Figure 4 basically comprises a chair 1, a back rest 2, a foot rest 3 und a support 4. The support 4 is in particular pivotably mounted on a foot 5.
Both the seat 1 and the back rest 2 as well as the seat 1 and the foot rest 3 are pivotably connected to one another by means of hinge points 6 and 7 respectively.
Furthermore, the back rest 2 is pivotably fixed by means of a hinge point 8 on the support 4, whilst the seat 1 is displaceably retained on the support 4. As can be seen in particular from Figure 4, the displaceability of the seat in the illustrated embodiment is ensured by rollers 9, wherein the rollers 9 are fixed on the support 4 and the seat 1 with its frame rests merely by its weight on the rollers 9.
A rotation of the back rest 2 about the hinge point 8 effects a displacement of the seat 1 on the rollers 9 relative to the support 4 by entrainment of the seat 1 by way of the hinge point 6 (see Figure 1 to Figure 3).
Actuating bars 10 are provided between the foot rest 3 and the support 4 so that the movement of the seat and the back rest also simultaneously cause retraction or extension of the foot rest 3. In this case the actuating bars 10 are pivotably retained on the support 4 by way of a hinge point 11 and on the foot rest 3 by way of a hinge point 12.
The seat, back rest, foot rest and support co-operate in such a way that by shifting his weight the user can move the reclining chair from the upright position according to Figure 1 with the foot rest retracted into the reclining position according to Figure 3 with the foot rest extended.
The back rest 2 can be constructed in one piece. However, a head rest 13 which is adjustable in its inclination is preferably provided.
The seat 1, the back rest 2, the head rest 13 und optionally also the foot rest 3 are provided with cushioning which is not shown in greater detail.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 spring means 14 which aid the sequence of movements are provided between the support 4 and the back rest 2. The spring means are preferably designed so that they force the relaxation chair into the upright position according to Figure 1.
The fact that the seat 1 rests merely with its weight on the rollers 9 makes it possible, after release of the actuating bars 10 in the region of the hinge points 11 or 12, for the seat 1 with foot rest 3 and back rest to be folded together in a very space-saving manner, as can be seen in particular from Figures 6 and 7.
Instead of a release of the connection in the region of the hinge point 11, naturally a release of the connection in the region of the hinge point 12 or of the connection of the seat and the foot rest might also be considered. With the foot 5 removed, a very narrow and compact package is provided for transport. In this case a height of for example approximately 15 cm can be achieved.
The simple design of the relaxation chair makes cost-effective manufacture and very space-saving transport possible. Nevertheless, an extremely comfortable moving mechanism is created which, in addition to a change in the angle between the seat and the back rest, also causes an automatic extension and retraction of the foot rest, wherein the movement of the relaxation chair is achieved solely by the shift in the user's weight.

Claims

Relaxation chair with a seat (1), a back rest (2) and a foot rest (3), wherein the seat and the back rest as well as the seat and the foot rest are pivotably connected to one another, and with a support (4) with at least one foot (5), wherein the seat, back rest, foot rest and support co-operate in such a way that the relaxation chair can be moved by the user from an upright position with the foot rest retracted into a reclining position with the foot rest extended, wherein the back rest (2) is pivotably retained on the support (4) and the seat (1) is displaceably retained on the support (4) by means of rollers (9), whereby a rotation of the back rest (2) effects a displacement of the seat (1) on the rollers (9) relative to the support (4) characterised in that an actuating bar (10) is provided between the foot rest (3) and the support (4) so that rearward movement of the seat from the upright position causes extension of the foot rest (3), and so that forward movement of the seat from the reclining position causes retraction of the foot rest (3).
Relaxation chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the seat (1) rests merely with its weight on the rollers (9).
Relaxation chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the seat (1), back rest (2), foot rest (3) and support (4) co-operate in such a way that by shifting his weight the user can move the reclining chair from the upright position with the foot rest (3) retracted into the reclining position with the foot rest (3) extended.
Relaxation chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the fixing of the foot rest (3) on the seat (1) and/or by means of the actuating bar (10) on the support (4) is releasable so that - for transport purposes - the seat and the back rest (2) can be folded together.
Relaxation chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the actuating bar (10) is releasably fixed on the support (4) and/or on the foot rest (3) so that - for transport purposes - the seat (1) with extended foot rest (3) and the back rest (2) can be folded together.
Relaxation chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that a head rest (13) is fixed on the upper end of the back rest (2).
Relaxation chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that a head rest (13) which is adjustable in its inclination is fixed on the upper end of the back rest (2).
Relaxation chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that spring means (14) are provided between the support (4) and the back rest (2).
Relaxation chair as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that spring means (14) which force the relaxation chair into the upright position are provided between the support (4) and the back rest (2).