EP2717742B1 - Forward sliding reclining chair - Google Patents
Forward sliding reclining chair Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2717742B1 EP2717742B1 EP12728151.7A EP12728151A EP2717742B1 EP 2717742 B1 EP2717742 B1 EP 2717742B1 EP 12728151 A EP12728151 A EP 12728151A EP 2717742 B1 EP2717742 B1 EP 2717742B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- seat
- backrest
- respect
- upright
- chair
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Not-in-force
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/022—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
- A47C1/03205—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest having adjustable and lockable inclination
- A47C1/03211—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest having adjustable and lockable inclination by electric motors
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
- A47C1/03255—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/031—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/032—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest
- A47C1/03294—Reclining or easy chairs having coupled concurrently adjustable supporting parts the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/02—Seat parts
- A47C7/024—Seat parts with double seats
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/02—Seat parts
- A47C7/14—Seat parts of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
- A47C7/38—Support for the head or the back for the head
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
- A47C7/40—Support for the head or the back for the back
- A47C7/405—Support for the head or the back for the back with double backrests
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
- A47C7/36—Support for the head or the back
- A47C7/40—Support for the head or the back for the back
- A47C7/46—Support for the head or the back for the back with special, e.g. adjustable, lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
Definitions
- This invention relates to an improved reclining swiveling task chair of the type used in offices.
- the user's back is arched so that their upper back and head remains substantially vertical while their lower back and waist are relatively straightened and significantly reclined.
- this type of reclined body position (which is referenced throughout the present application), the rearward portion of the chair seat and the lower portion of the chair back support are virtually unused in that the user's body is not being supported by them.
- the user's body can be in a nearly straight standing posture (except for their arched upper back) yet reclined nearly 45° with respect to the floor while the chair back support may be only partially reclined.
- Typical reclining office chairs provide substantially planar seat support and back support surfaces that may adequately support the user when the user sits upright, but they do not provide adequate contours and/or bends that will support a user in the above described reclined body position.
- these typical office chairs do not move between the upright and reclined positions in a manner that provides a proportional transition from the upright to the reclined position that will support a user as they move from upright to the above described reclined body form.
- Typical reclining office chairs also carry the user's head and shoulders significantly rearward as the user reclines. The result is, before the user can resume working again after assuming the above noted reclined body form, they must walk their chair forward (rolling on the castered base) to maintain the distance between their eyes and the computer display screen.
- Typical reclining office chairs often provide an adjustable lumbar support device mounted to the chair backrest support.
- the typical lumbar support remains in the same relationship to the backrest support.
- the user's upper legs are supported in cantilevered fashion between the seat edge and the floor and the user's lower back is spaced away from the chair backrest and lumbar supports. This may limit or eliminate the effectiveness of the lumbar support while increasing the pressure of the buttocks on the seat ledge.
- Typical reclining office chairs often provide an adjustable headrest support device mounted to the chair backrest support.
- the headrest support remains in the same relationship to the backrest support.
- the headrest is operated by a 4-bar linkage the keep the headrest substantially vertical as the back reclines.
- This type of headrest tends to bend the users neck so that the users head moves forward with respect to the user's shoulders, affectively pressing the user's chin closer to their chest.
- the user in the above noted reclined body form may try to overcome this affect by sitting excessively reclined in a reclining chair that is only partially reclined. This keeps the user's upper back and head supported in a substantially vertical orientation with the head comfortably balanced.
- U.S. Patent No. 677234 discloses a lounge chair that moves the seat and lower back forward as the backrest reclines. However, neither the seat nor the backrest of this chair conform to the shaped of a user in the above noted reclined body position. Also, the upper back of a user in this chair tends to fall away from the user's computer monitor, moving the user's eyes significantly rearward.
- U.S. Patent No. 5,979,984 discloses a chair that moves the seat forward slightly by pivotally attaching the back support to the stationary chair base. Once again, however, the shape of the seat surface does adequately conform to the shape of a user sitting in the above noted reclined body position. Similarly, the upper back of a user in this chair tends to fall away from the user's computer monitor and other objects sitting on the user's worksurface, moving the user's eyes significantly rearward.
- U.S. Patents 6820936 and 7922248 each disclose a seat surface with front and rear portions connected by a bend area where the angle of bend increases proportional to the back recline angle. However, the seat and backrest do not move forward as backrest reclines, leaving the seat out of position, and the backrest (and any lumbar support) spaced away from the back of a person in the above noted recline position.
- EP-A2-0265782 discloses a chair having a pelvis-hip support adjustable relative to a front seat portion.
- EP-A1-2494887 discloses a rocking chair.
- the seat has a first section at the front and a second section at the rear.
- the seat slides in the front-back direction and the second section can tilt backwards with respect to the first section.
- the backrest includes an upper portion and a lower portion that can pivot with respect to one another.
- the angle between the forward faces of the upper and lower backrest portions decreases.
- the above noted movement of the chair of the present invention provides good back and upper leg support for a user from full upright to an extreme reclined position. More particularly, the progressive bending of the back support in the area just below the user's shoulders maintains the user's head and shoulders substantially upright while the user moves from fully upright to a reclined posture, and the progressive bending of the back support in the area just below the user's shoulders maintains support to the user's lower back while the user moves from fully upright to a reclined posture.
- the bending of the seat portion of the chair relieves pressure from under the user's upper legs as the user moves from fully upright to a fully reclined position.
- the angular orientation of the upper portion of the backrest remains substantially the same as the backrest is moved to the reclined position.
- upper portion of the backrest travels in a substantially vertical plane as the backrest is moved to the reclined position, such that the distance between the upper portion of the backrest and a fixed object in front of the user's chair, such as a computer monitor, remains substantially the same.
- the chair in another embodiment, includes a lumbar pressure arm and the backrest includes a lumbar support having a surface for supporting the seated user's lower back area.
- the lumbar support is mounted on a support arm, and the support arm is pivotally mounted to the backrest.
- the lumbar pressure arm is mounted to the chair and configured to engage the lumbar support arm as the backrest rotates from the upright position to the reclined position.
- the rotation of the backrest to the reclining position increases the engagement force of the lumbar support arm on the pressure arm, and consequently moves the lumbar support towards a seated user's lower back.
- the adjustable lumbar support device can thus move forwardly with respect to the chair backrest as the user moves from fully upright to a reclined posture to maintain engagement with the user's back.
- the movements of the chair can be controlled with electrically powered motion for moving the user from fully upright to intermediate positions or a fully reclined position and returning back to the fully upright position with reduced effort.
- FIG. 1 - 10 there is illustrated a first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10A (herein-after referred to as the "chair” for convenience) configured with a power driven recline mechanism.
- the chair 10A includes a wheeled base assembly 13 having an upright support post 14 projecting therefrom.
- the upright support post 14 in turn mounts thereon a guide frame 15 which supports a slidable seat 16 which is pivoted to a reclinable back support 17, for supporting a seated user/occupant.
- the wheeled base assembly 13 includes a set of swiveling casters 38.
- seat 16 has a front 18 and rear 19 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 20.
- Back support 17 has upper 21 and lower 22 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 23.
- the lower back support portion 22 is pivotally connected to seat rear portion 19 at pivot pins 24.
- the upper back portion 21 is pivotally connected near the top thereof to upper guide 25 by pin 26.
- Upper guide 25 is slidably supported by frame extension 27 of guide frame 15.
- Upper back portion 21 is pivotally connected near hinge 23 to middle guide 31 by guide roller 32.
- Upper guide 25 and middle guide roller 32 are slidably supported on frame extension 27 of guide frame 15.
- Seat front portion 18 is pivotally supported by guides 28 which are slidingly supported and guided by guide supports 29.
- Seat rear portion 19 is pivotally and sliding supported near hinge 20 by guides 30 which are slidingly supported by guide supports 39 of guide frame 15.
- Seat rear portion 19 is also pivotally and slidingly supported on rollers 34 within guides 33.
- a linear actuator 35 includes motor 41 and screw 42.
- the front end of the linear actuator 35 is pivotally mounted to frame 15 at pins 36.
- the rear end of linear actuator 35 is pivotally mounted to nut 40, at the lower end of extension arm 37 of rear seat portion 19 near rollers 34.
- Motor 41 may be powered by battery 43, which may be wire connected through a conventional forward-off-reverse rocker switch (not shown) that is mounted on arm support 44 by a flexible cord (not shown).
- the operation of the power driven recline and return first embodiment 10A of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair is accomplished by the user/occupant actuating a rocker switch, which may be mounted on armrest support 44 or another desired location.
- Switching "forward" (to recline) actuates the motor 35, which in turn rotates screw 42 so that nut 40 is threadingly pulled forward.
- the forward movement of nut 40 drives extension arm 37 of seat rear portion 19 along guide 33.
- the trajectory of guides 28 and 30 is controlled by the positioning of the guide supports 29 and 39 respectively which guide the seat front portion 18 and rear portion 19 forward.
- Guide supports 29 and 39 are angled in a predetermined direction such that the front edge of seat front portion 18 progressively slopes downward as hinged junction 20 raises.
- the lower portion of back support 17 is pulled forward via the pivoting connection between the lower back support portion 22 and the seat rear portion 19 at pivot pins 24.
- the back support 17 lower portion 22 bends with respect to the upper portion 21 by pivoting about hinge 23, and the upper edge 46 of upper portion 21 is consequently pulled downward with the roller 32 traveling downwardly within the roller guide track 31 and the guide 25 traveling downwardly within the guide support 47.
- the trajectory of guide 25 and roller 32 are controlled by the positioning of the guide support 47 and guide track 31 respectively.
- the chair is returned from a reclined position to an upright position by the user/occupant actuating "reverse" on the rocker switch on armrest support 44 which moves seat 16 and back support 17 back their respective upright positions.
- FIG. 11 - 15 there is illustrated a second embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10B.
- This second embodiment 10B is also a power driven version that operates the same as version 10A except version 10B includes angularly adjustable guide support brackets 50 and 51 that control the trajectory of guides 28 and 30 respectively.
- guide support bracket 50 may be pivotally mounted on guide frame 15 at pivot pin 52 and may be slidably supported on guide frame 15 by shoulder screw 53.
- extension arm 54 of guide support bracket 50 is pivotally connected at the lower end 55 to cross connection bar 56.
- Cross connection bar 56 has an internally threaded T-portion 57 into which adjusting screw 58 can be turned.
- Adjusting screw 58 has knob 59 exposed at the forward end to allow easy adjustment.
- Guide support bracket 51 is pivotally mounted on guide frame 15 at pivot pin 62 and is slidably supported on guide frame 15 by shoulder screw 63.
- Extension arm 64 of guide support bracket 51 is pivotally connected at the lower end 65 to cross connection bar 66.
- Cross connection bar 66 has an internally threaded T-portion 67 into which adjusting screw 68 can be turned.
- Adjusting screw 68 has knob 69 exposed at the forward end to allow easy adjustment.
- FIGS. 16 - 18 illustrate a third embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10C.
- This embodiment is generally the same as the second embodiment, and additionally includes rollers 72 in guide support brackets 70, 71 to reduce guiding friction when controlling guides 28, 30.
- Guide 77 includes rollers 78 to reduce guiding friction on guide 75.
- FIGS. 19 - 26 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10D.
- This embodiment is not motor driven.
- the recline motions are generally the same as those described above in connection with embodiment 10A and thus will not be described again in detail, except that in this embodiment the movement is powered by gravity and the weight of the user/occupant while a compression spring 80 assists the user/occupant in the return stroke back to upright.
- Figs. 19 - 23 illustrate a 5-position sequence along the recline/return stroke.
- the chair 10D includes a wheeled base assembly 13 having an upright support post 14 projecting therefrom.
- the upright support post 14 in turn mounts thereon a guide frame 100 which supports a slidable seat 116 which is pivoted to a reclinable back support 117, for supporting a seated user/occupant.
- the wheeled base assembly 13 includes a set of swiveling casters 38.
- Seat 116 has front 81 and rear 82 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 85.
- Back support 117 has upper 84 and lower 83 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 87.
- the lower back support portion 83 is pivotally connected to seat rear portion 82 at pivot pins 86.
- the upper back portion 84 is pivotally connected near the top thereof to link 89 by pin 88.
- Link 89 is pivotally connected to seat rear portion bracket 104 at pin 90 at the lower end thereof.
- Lower back portion 83 is pivotally connected to guide extension 106 at the lower end thereof.
- Guide extension 106 has rollers 112 that are slidably connected to guide track 93.
- Seat front portion 81 is pivotally supported by guide extension 102 through support bracket 103.
- Guide extension 102 has rollers 113 that are slidingly engaged in guide track 101.
- Seat rear portion 82 has securely attached brackets 118 having rollers 105. Rollers 105 are slidingly engaged in guide track 94.
- Seat rear portion 82 has bracket 108 near hinge 85.
- Bracket 108 has roller 114 which rolls on guide track 111 of track bar 107.
- Guide frame 100 has support posts 115 pivotally mounted thereto. Guide pins 110 securely attached to support posts 115 at attachment point 116 at the forward end thereof. Seat rear portion 82 has bracket extensions 117 securely attached thereto. Bracket extensions 117 has cross bar 109 pivotally attached thereto. Cross bar 109 has holes 120 through which pin 110 is slidingly engaged. Compression spring 80 is guided there through by pin 110 and contained between support posts 115 and cross bar 109.
- Upper back portion 84 has armrest support 95 attached thereto. As illustrated, armrest 97 is height adjustably attached to armrest support 95 at slot 96.
- Figs. 27 - 33 describe a fifth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10E. Similar to the previous embodiment, this embodiment is not motor driven. Except as described below, the recline motions operate in generally the same manner as described in connection with embodiment 10A, but are powered by gravity and the user/occupant while a compression spring (not shown in these illustrations but is applied similar to compression spring 80 in the fourth embodiment) assists the user/occupant in the return stroke back from reclined to upright.
- a compression spring not shown in these illustrations but is applied similar to compression spring 80 in the fourth embodiment
- the chair 10E includes a wheeled base assembly 13 having an upright support post 14 projecting therefrom.
- the upright support post 14 in turn mounts thereon a guide frame 135 which supports a slidable seat 170 which is pivoted to a reclinable back support 171, for supporting a seated user/occupant.
- the wheeled base assembly 13 includes a set of swiveling casters 38.
- Seat 170 has a front 125 and rear 127 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 126.
- Back support 171 has upper 128 and lower 129 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 135.
- the lower back support portion 129 is pivotally connected to seat rear portion 127 at pivot pins 133.
- the upper back portion 128 is pivotally connected near the bottom thereof to link 130 by pin 131 on upper back portion extension arm 155.
- Link 130 is pivotally connected to recline link 134 at pin 140 at the lower end thereof.
- Recline link 134 is pivotally connected at the upper end thereof to lower back bracket 137 at pin 152 and pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to guide frame 135 at pin 139.
- Seat front portion 125 may have a securely attached support bracket 141 extending downwardly therefrom. As shown, support bracket 141 is pivotally connected to guide bar 143 at pin 144. The trajectory of guide bar 143 may be controlled by the positioning and angle of guide block 165 and guide rollers 166. Guide block 165 is mounted to guide frame 135 and may be angularly adjustable with respect to the guide frame to enable changes in trajectory of the guide bar 143. Seat rear portion 127 has securely attached brackets 162 having rollers 151. Rollers 151 are slidingly engaged in guide track 150. Seat rear portion 127 has bracket 142 mounted near hinge 126. Bracket 142 has roller 145 which rolls on guide track bar 146. Guide track bar 146 is pivotally mounted to cross frame 167 at pin 147 and is adjustably supported by knob-screw 148.
- Back support 171 includes frame portions 128, 129 which are illustrated as open in area 132. In use, the back support 171 may be covered by a support fabric or membrane that is secured to frame portions 128, 129 and covering area 132.
- Figs. 34 - 48 describe a sixth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10F.
- This embodiment is not motor driven. Except as described below, the recline motions operate in generally the same manner as described in connection with embodiment 10A, but are powered by gravity and the user/occupant while a gas compression spring 280 assists the user/occupant in the return stroke from reclined back to upright.
- chair 10F includes a wheeled base assembly 13 having an upright support post 14 projecting therefrom.
- Upright support post 14 in turn mounts thereon roller guide frame 235 which supports slidable seat assembly 270 which has pivotally connected thereto a reclinable back support 271, for supporting a seated user/occupant.
- Support post 14 may include a conventional height adjustable gas spring (not shown) which is height adjustable by actuation of upwardly protruding button 290 at the top end thereof.
- bracket 291 is pivotally mounted on roller guide frame 235 at pin 292.
- Bracket 291 has lever 293 securely attached at the lower end thereof.
- Bracket 291 has sideward extension 294 located above button 290. The momentary lifting of lever 293 forces button 290 downward which releases an internal valve of the conventional height adjustable gas spring in post 14, which allows post 14 to be changed to the user's desired seat height.
- seat assembly 270 may be covered by a layer of foam cushioning and fabric, which is not shown.
- the wheeled base assembly 13 may include a set of swiveling casters 38.
- Seat 270 has front 225 and rear 227 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 226.
- Back support 271 has upper 228 and lower 229 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 287.
- the lower back support portion 229 is pivotally connected to seat rear portion 227 at pivot pin 233 on seat support bracket 262.
- Upper back portion 228 is pivotally connected near the lower end thereof to the upper end of a link 230 by pivot pin 231 on extension arm 255 of upper back portion 228.
- the lower end of link 230 is pivotally connected to link 234 at pin 240.
- link 234 is pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to a bracket 237 of lower back 229 at pin 252 and pivotally connected at the upper end thereof to the rearward end of link 299 at pivot 239.
- Link 299 is connected to seat support bracket 262 of seat rear portion 227 at pivot 190 at the forward end thereof.
- Bracket 237 is also pivotally connected to guide bar 248 at pin 218.
- Guide bar 248 is supported and guided by rollers 246 in roller guide frame 235.
- Link 230 can be length adjustable when optionally having three parts: upper link 230A, lower link 230B and sleeve link 230C.
- upper link 230A has RH threaded lower end
- lower link 230B has LH threaded upper end
- Sleeve link 230C has mating RH threaded upper end and a mating LH threaded lower end.
- Seat front portion 225 has securely attached support bracket 241 near the forward end thereof.
- Support bracket 241 is pivotally connected to guide bar 243 at pin 244.
- the trajectory of guide bar 243 is controlled by guide block 265 and guide rollers 266.
- Seat rear portion 227 has securely attached bracket 262 having roller 251.
- Roller 251 is slidingly engaged in guide track 250.
- Guide track 250 may include recess 267 at the rearward end. Pressure from the user's weight pushes seat 271 downward causing roller 251 to engage recess 267 when 271 is in the most rearward location.
- Seat rear portion 227 has bracket 242 securely attached near the rear underside edge thereof.
- Guide bar 236 is pivotally mounted to bracket 242 at pin 247. The trajectory of guide bar 236 is controlled by rollers 245 mounted in guide block 265.
- Bracket 275 has ball pivot 274 attached at the forward end thereof.
- Gas compression spring 280 is pivotally attached to ball pivot 276 at the rearward end 273 and the forward end 272 is pivotally attached to ball pivot 274.
- Seat rear portion 227 near the sideward edge has armrest mount bracket 269 securely attached and extending outward therefrom.
- An armrest assembly 268 may securely attach to the armrest bracket 269 and may extend upwardly therefrom.
- the seat rear portion 227 includes plate 253.
- Plate 253 includes opening 254 and ledge 256.
- Ledge 256 supports spring plate 257 for improved cushioning of the user's buttocks.
- Back support 271 includes frame portions 228, 229 which define open area 232. In use, back support 271 may have a support fabric or membrane (not shown) secured to frame portions 228, 229 and covering area 232.
- the back support 271 includes arm 288 pivotally connected to extension 255 at pin 231 and is suspended downwardly therefrom.
- Arm 288 has bracket 286 slidably/lockably mounted near the lower end thereof.
- Bracket 286 supports lumbar pressure pad 289.
- Bracket 286 has two halves 286A and 286B that clamp arm 288 therebetween by the adjustable clamping force of screw-knob 285 thereby making lumbar pressure pad 289 height adjustable on arm 288.
- Link 234 has mounted thereon spring arm 284 at the lower end thereof.
- the upper end of spring arm 284 includes elongated slot 283.
- roller bracket 282 is adjustably mounted thereto.
- Roller bracket 282 has a threaded hole into which screw-knob 281 is attached by passing through elongated slot 283, clamping spring arm 284 therebetween by the adjustable clamping force of screw-knob 283, thereby making roller bracket 282 height adjustable on spring arm 284.
- Roller bracket 282 includes roller 278. Roller 278 contacts the rearward face 279 of arm 288.
- seat 270 and back support 271 are driven forward and backward respectively by actions initiated by the user.
- the seat rear portion 227 is caused to move forwardly and also pivot downwardly about an axis defined by the roller 251
- the seat front portion 225 is caused to move forwardly, and also pivot downwardly about the axis of the hinge 226 to increase the angle between the upper surfaces of the seat front portion 225 and seat rear portion 227.
- lower back 229 pivots downwardly about axis 233, causing pin 218 and the rearward end of guide bar 248 to pivot downwardly about axis 233, such that the lower back 229 pivots with respect to the seat 270.
- the pivoting may occur by structure other than a pivot pin, including a flexible material, a flexible portion of material such as a living hinge, or another type of hinge mechanism.
- the guide bar 248 applies pressure to rollers 246 which steer guide bar 248 in a forward and downward trajectory which causes seat 270 and axis 233 to move forwardly.
- guide bar 243 which is pivotally attached to seat front portion 225, is carried along and follows a trajectory controlled by rollers 265 in roller guide frame 235.
- the trajectory of guide bar 243 as it moves through the rollers 265 causes the seat front portion 225 to pivot downwardly about hinge 226 as seat 270 moves forwardly.
- upper back 228 pivots about axis 287 to decrease the angle between the forward surfaces of the upper back 228 and lower back 229 respectively. More particularly, since link 234 remains in substantially the same orientation, link 230, which is connected between link 234 and upper back 228 extension 255, holds upper back 228 in substantially the same orientation throughout its path of travel as it pivots about axis 287 with respect to the reclining lower back 229.
- Figures 60, 61 illustrate that in similarly functioning embodiments 10F, 10G, 10H and 10J, the axis 287 (or 487) remains substantially horizontally stationary over base 13 as seat 270 and axis 233 move forward.
- the initial force required to recline lower back 229 is increased when seat 271 is located fully rearward due to the additional force required to drive roller 251 out of the recess 267 in guide track 250.
- the extent of recline angle of lower back 229 can be controlled by the distance that the guide bar 248 is allowed to travel.
- the arcing travel of seat rear portion 227 is controlled by the trajectory of guide bar 236.
- the arcing travel of seat front portion 225 is controlled by the trajectory of guide bar 243.
- Figs. 49-53 describe a seventh embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10G.
- the basic structure and motions of chair 10G are nearly identical to chair 10F except that the motions are powered by an electric linear actuator 380 that replaces gas spring 280.
- Roller guide frame 335 includes all the components of roller guide frame 235 except bracket 275 and ball pivot 274 are replaced by bracket 375 and pivot pin 374.
- Seat rear portion 327 includes all the components of seat rear portion 227 except bracket 277 and ball pivot 276 are replaced by bracket 377 and pivot pin 376.
- Linear actuator 380 includes body portion 310 and drive rod 396. Body portion 310 includes motor 394 and screw housing 395.
- Linear actuator 380 is pivotally attached to bracket 377 at pivot pin 376 near the rearward end 397 of screw housing 395 thereof.
- Drive rod 396 is pivotally attached to bracket 375 at pivot pin 374 at the forward end thereof.
- the operation of linear actuator 380 is conventional in that, the shaft (not shown) of motor 394 rotates a jackscrew (not shown) within screw housing 395.
- the rearward end (not shown) of drive rod 396 includes a threaded nut that is engaged with the jackscrew. Jackscrew rotation in one direction extends drive rod 396 outward from body portion 310. Jackscrew rotation in the opposite direction retracts drive rod 396 inwardly into body portion 310.
- Motor 394 is powered by battery 343 which is wire connected through a conventional Forward-off-reverse rocker switch (not shown) that is mounted on armrest support 268 by a flexible cord (not shown).
- the operation of the power driven recline and return motions of the seventh embodiment 10G are accomplished by the user/occupant actuating the rocker switch on armrest support 268. Switching the rocker switch to "forward" (to recline) rotates motor and jackscrew so that the nut on drive rod 396 is threadingly pulled rearward, retracting drive rod 396. Retracting drive rod 396 pulls body portion 310 forward, seat 270 forward and lower backrest 229 forward and downward, while simultaneously proportionally bending the upward surface of seat 270 and the forward surface of backrest 271.
- Figs. 54 - 58 describe an eighth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10H.
- This embodiment is not motor driven.
- the recline motions are powered by gravity and the user/occupant while a gas compression spring 480 assists the user/occupant in the return stroke from reclined back to upright.
- Chair 10H includes a wheeled base assembly 13 having an upright support post 14 projecting therefrom which includes a conventional height adjustable gas spring (not shown).
- Upright support post 14 in turn mounts thereon roller guide frame 435 which supports slidable seat assembly 470 which has pivotally connected thereto reclinable back support 471, for supporting a seated user/occupant.
- seat assembly 470 will normally be covered by a layer of foam cushioning and fabric, which is not shown.
- the wheeled base assembly 13 includes a set of swiveling casters 38.
- Seat 470 has front 425 and rear 427 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge 426.
- Back support 471 has upper 428 and lower 429 portions that are pivotally connected by hinge pivot 487.
- Lower back support portion 429 is pivotally connected to seat rear portion 427 at pivot pin 433 on seat support bracket 462 for angular travel between upright and reclined positions.
- Upper back portion 428 is pivotally connected near the lower end thereof to the upper end of link 430 by pivot pin 431 on extension arm 455 of upper back portion 428.
- Guide bar 448 includes securely attached bracket 434 at the rearward end thereof. Bracket 434 includes pivot 440 near the upper end thereof.
- Link 430 is pivotally connected to guide bar 448 at pivot 440 at the lower end thereof.
- Lower back portion 429 is also pivotally connected to guide bar 448 at pivot 418 for controlling the extent of upright to recline angular travel.
- Guide bar 448 is supported and guided by rollers 446 in roller guide frame 435.
- Seat front portion 425 has securely attached support bracket 441 near the forward end thereof.
- Support bracket 441 is pivotally connected to guide bar 443 at pivot 444.
- the trajectory of guide bar 443 is controlled by guide block 465 and guide rollers 466.
- Seat rear portion 427 has securely attached bracket 462 and includes securely attached guide roller 451.
- Guide roller 451 is slidingly engaged in guide track 450.
- Seat rear portion 427 includes bracket 442 near the rear underside edge thereof.
- Guide bar 436 is pivotally attached to bracket 442 at pivot 447. The trajectory of guide bar 436 is supported and controlled by rollers 445 mounted in guide block 465.
- Bracket 477 has ball pivot 476 at its rearward end.
- Roller guide frame 435 includes bracket 475 projecting forwardly from the upper side thereof.
- Bracket 475 has ball pivot 474 attached at the forward end thereof.
- Gas compression spring 480 is pivotally attached to ball pivot 476 at the rearward end 473 and the forward end 472 is pivotally attached to ball pivot 474.
- Armrest mount bracket 469 extending outward therefrom.
- Armrest bracket 469 has securely and height-adjustably attached armrest assembly 468 extending upwardly therefrom.
- Back support 471 includes frame portions 428 and 429 which defines area 432 therebetween. In use, back support 471 will have a support fabric or membrane (not shown) secured to frame portions 428, 429 and covering area 432.
- Lower back portion 429 has arm 488 pivotally attached at pivot 453 and projecting upwardly therefrom.
- Arm 488 has bracket 486 mounted near the upper end thereof. Bracket 486 supports lumbar pressure pad 489.
- Spring arm 484 is securely mounted on bracket 434 of guide bar 448 at the lower end thereof.
- Roller mount bracket 482 is mounted near the upper end of spring arm 484.
- Roller 478 is pivotally attached to roller mount bracket 482. Roller 478 contacts the rearward face 479 of arm 488.
- seat 470 and back support 471 are driven forward and backward respectively.
- the forward travel results from the cam action pressure of guide bar 448 against rollers 446 as lower back 429 arcs downward.
- the extent of recline angle of lower back 429 is controlled by the distance guide bar 448 is allowed to travel.
- the arcing travel of seat rear portion 427 is controlled by the trajectory of guide bar 436.
- the arcing travel of seat front portion 425 is controlled by the trajectory of guide bar 443.
- Figs. 59 - 61 describe a ninth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10J.
- This embodiment is identical to embodiment 10F ( Figs. 34-48 ) with the addition of a headrest support 215 extending upwardly from upper portion 228 of back support 271.
- vertical phantom line 217 aligns with pivot 233
- vertical phantom line 216 aligns with pivot 287 indicating the horizontal locations of pivots 233 and 287 with respect to base 13 in full upright ( fig. 60 ) and fully reclined ( fig. 61 ).
- the seat forward movement distance for the above embodiments ranges from 10-inches for chair 10A to 6-inches for chair 10F.
- the best forward movement range is five to seven inches.
- the best performance for any of the above embodiments is achieved when the seat back upper portion does not move significantly rearward as the seat moves forward.
- any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation.
- the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits.
Description
- This invention relates to an improved reclining swiveling task chair of the type used in offices.
- Modern reclining office chairs can be quite comfortable for many people, and, due to advances in recline technology, can be comfortable for users sitting in various positions from upright to reclined. However, common office chair recline mechanisms may not be fully accommodating for certain users that prefer to work in a reclined position with the body stretched into a straightened form. For example, it is common to see a designer or computer programmer in an extremely reclined position where they have slid forward into a position where their buttocks is supported only by the front edge of their chair seat and their back is only supported in the upper back area by the chair backrest support. With their feet on the floor, the seat front edge is serving as a ledge for the user's buttocks to stop them from sliding completely off the chair. The user's back is arched so that their upper back and head remains substantially vertical while their lower back and waist are relatively straightened and significantly reclined. In this type of reclined body position (which is referenced throughout the present application), the rearward portion of the chair seat and the lower portion of the chair back support are virtually unused in that the user's body is not being supported by them. In this position, the user's body can be in a nearly straight standing posture (except for their arched upper back) yet reclined nearly 45° with respect to the floor while the chair back support may be only partially reclined.
- Typical reclining office chairs provide substantially planar seat support and back support surfaces that may adequately support the user when the user sits upright, but they do not provide adequate contours and/or bends that will support a user in the above described reclined body position. In addition, these typical office chairs do not move between the upright and reclined positions in a manner that provides a proportional transition from the upright to the reclined position that will support a user as they move from upright to the above described reclined body form.
- Typical reclining office chairs also carry the user's head and shoulders significantly rearward as the user reclines. The result is, before the user can resume working again after assuming the above noted reclined body form, they must walk their chair forward (rolling on the castered base) to maintain the distance between their eyes and the computer display screen.
- Typical reclining office chairs often provide an adjustable lumbar support device mounted to the chair backrest support. However, as the user reclines, the typical lumbar support remains in the same relationship to the backrest support. As the user assumes the above reclined body form and the seat front portion becomes the buttocks support, the user's upper legs are supported in cantilevered fashion between the seat edge and the floor and the user's lower back is spaced away from the chair backrest and lumbar supports. This may limit or eliminate the effectiveness of the lumbar support while increasing the pressure of the buttocks on the seat ledge.
- Typical reclining office chairs often provide an adjustable headrest support device mounted to the chair backrest support. However, in some chairs, as the user reclines, the headrest support remains in the same relationship to the backrest support. In a few other chairs the headrest is operated by a 4-bar linkage the keep the headrest substantially vertical as the back reclines. This type of headrest tends to bend the users neck so that the users head moves forward with respect to the user's shoulders, affectively pressing the user's chin closer to their chest. The user in the above noted reclined body form may try to overcome this affect by sitting excessively reclined in a reclining chair that is only partially reclined. This keeps the user's upper back and head supported in a substantially vertical orientation with the head comfortably balanced. Unfortunately, the user sacrifices proper lower back and upper leg support to achieve this working position. The user's back lumbar area is thus supported only by the muscles in his back as it sags into the area above the seat rear portion and the slightly reclined backrest lower portion.
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U.S. Patent No. 677234 (Kelly ) discloses a lounge chair that moves the seat and lower back forward as the backrest reclines. However, neither the seat nor the backrest of this chair conform to the shaped of a user in the above noted reclined body position. Also, the upper back of a user in this chair tends to fall away from the user's computer monitor, moving the user's eyes significantly rearward. -
U.S. Patent No. 5,979,984 discloses a chair that moves the seat forward slightly by pivotally attaching the back support to the stationary chair base. Once again, however, the shape of the seat surface does adequately conform to the shape of a user sitting in the above noted reclined body position. Similarly, the upper back of a user in this chair tends to fall away from the user's computer monitor and other objects sitting on the user's worksurface, moving the user's eyes significantly rearward. -
U.S. Patents 6820936 and7922248 each disclose a seat surface with front and rear portions connected by a bend area where the angle of bend increases proportional to the back recline angle. However, the seat and backrest do not move forward as backrest reclines, leaving the seat out of position, and the backrest (and any lumbar support) spaced away from the back of a person in the above noted recline position. -
EP-A2-0265782 discloses a chair having a pelvis-hip support adjustable relative to a front seat portion. -
EP-A1-2494887 discloses a rocking chair. The seat has a first section at the front and a second section at the rear. The seat slides in the front-back direction and the second section can tilt backwards with respect to the first section. - There is need for an office chair that provides sufficient back and leg support through the entire work posture range by conforming to user's body profile and carrying the user's body forward, thereby keeping user's eyes substantially the same distance from the screen regardless of the amount of recline.
- The present invention is defined by the independent claims. Specific embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.
- In one embodiment, the backrest includes an upper portion and a lower portion that can pivot with respect to one another. When the backrest is moved to the recline position, the angle between the forward faces of the upper and lower backrest portions decreases.
- The above noted movement of the chair of the present invention provides good back and upper leg support for a user from full upright to an extreme reclined position. More particularly, the progressive bending of the back support in the area just below the user's shoulders maintains the user's head and shoulders substantially upright while the user moves from fully upright to a reclined posture, and the progressive bending of the back support in the area just below the user's shoulders maintains support to the user's lower back while the user moves from fully upright to a reclined posture. The bending of the seat portion of the chair relieves pressure from under the user's upper legs as the user moves from fully upright to a fully reclined position.
- In one embodiment, the angular orientation of the upper portion of the backrest remains substantially the same as the backrest is moved to the reclined position. In another embodiment, upper portion of the backrest travels in a substantially vertical plane as the backrest is moved to the reclined position, such that the distance between the upper portion of the backrest and a fixed object in front of the user's chair, such as a computer monitor, remains substantially the same.
- In another embodiment, the chair includes a lumbar pressure arm and the backrest includes a lumbar support having a surface for supporting the seated user's lower back area. The lumbar support is mounted on a support arm, and the support arm is pivotally mounted to the backrest. The lumbar pressure arm is mounted to the chair and configured to engage the lumbar support arm as the backrest rotates from the upright position to the reclined position. The rotation of the backrest to the reclining position increases the engagement force of the lumbar support arm on the pressure arm, and consequently moves the lumbar support towards a seated user's lower back. The adjustable lumbar support device can thus move forwardly with respect to the chair backrest as the user moves from fully upright to a reclined posture to maintain engagement with the user's back.
- In yet another embodiment, the movements of the chair can be controlled with electrically powered motion for moving the user from fully upright to intermediate positions or a fully reclined position and returning back to the fully upright position with reduced effort.
- Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including" and "comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.
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Fig. 1 is a perspective upper left view of a first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 2 is a perspective upper left rear view of a first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 3 is a perspective lower left rear view of a first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair (having the left frame side removed). -
Fig. 4 is a front fully reclined view of a first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 5 is a rear fully reclined view of a first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 6 is a side view of a fully reclined first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 7 is a perspective upper right view of a fully reclined first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 8 is a perspective lower right view of a fully reclined first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 9 is a left side view of a fully reclined first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair (having the left frame side removed). -
Fig. 10 is a left side view of a fully upright first embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair (having the left frame side removed). -
Fig. 11 is a left side view of a fully reclined second embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 12 is a left side view of a fully upright second embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 13 is a left front upper perspective view of a fully reclined second embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 14 is a left front lower perspective view of a fully reclined second embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 15 is a fragmentary underside perspective view of a second embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 16 is a fragmentary upper rear perspective view of a third embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 17 is a fragmentary lower right front perspective view of a third embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an adjustable roller guide of a third embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 19 is a left side view of a fully upright, fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 20 is a left side view of a fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair (shown reclined about one-fourth of the recline stroke). -
Fig. 21 is a left side view of a fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair (shown reclined about one-half of the recline stroke). -
Fig. 22 is a left side view of a fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair (shown reclined about three-fourths of the recline stroke). -
Fig. 23 is a left side view of a fully reclined fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 24 is a left lower perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel without wheeled base. -
Fig. 25 is a front lower perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel without wheeled base. -
Fig. 26 is an upper left perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel without wheeled base. -
Fig. 27 is an upper left front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 28 is a left side view of a fully upright fifth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 29 is a left side view of a fully reclined fifth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 30 is a left side hidden-line view of a fifth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair -
Fig. 31 is a left side hidden-line view of a fully reclined fifth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 32 is a perspective upper left rear view of a fifth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair. -
Fig. 33 is a perspective lower left view of a fifth embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair (with wheeled base removed). -
Fig. 34 is a left side view of a fully upright sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 35 is a front view of a fully upright sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 36 is a rear view of a fully upright sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 37 is a left front lower perspective view of a fully upright sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 38 is a left rear lower perspective view of a fully upright sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 39 is a fragmentary right side partially hidden line view of a fully reclined sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 40 is a fragmentary right rear lower perspective view of a fully reclined sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 41 is a fragmentary left front lower perspective view of a fully reclined sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 42 is a fragmentary right side view of the lumbar area of a fully upright sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 43 is a fragmentary left front upper perspective view of a fully upright sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair (with seat top plates removed). -
Fig. 44 is a right front lower perspective view of the seat assembly of the sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 45 is a left front upper perspective view of the seat assembly of the sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 46 is a left front upper perspective view of the roller guide frame assembly of the sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 47 is a left front lower perspective view of the roller guide frame assembly of the sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 48 is a right side partially hidden line view of the roller guide frame assembly of the sixth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 49 is a fragmentary left rear lower perspective view of a fully upright seventh embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 50 is a fragmentary right front lower perspective view of a fully upright seventh embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 51 is a fragmentary right bottom perspective view of a fully upright seventh embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 52 is a fragmentary left front bottom perspective view of a fully reclined seventh embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 53 is a fragmentary right bottom perspective view of a fully reclined seventh embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 54 is a left side view of a fully upright eighth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 55 is a fragmentary left rear lower perspective view of a fully upright eighth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 56 is a left side view of a fully reclined eighth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 57 is a left rear lower perspective view of a fully reclined eighth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 58 is a left rear upper perspective view of the recline guide bar assembly of the eighth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 59 is a left front upper perspective view of a fully upright ninth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 60 is a left side view of a fully upright ninth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. -
Fig. 61 is a left side view of a fully reclined ninth embodiment of a forward sliding recline swivel chair. - Certain terminology will be used in the following description for the convenience in reference only, and will not be limited. For example, with respect to the chair, "Front" is the side of the chair shown in
Fig. 4 ; the abbreviation "RH" which means "right hand" and "LH" which means "left hand" as related to the user's right hand or left hand as he or she is supported in the chair while seated and facing in the same direction as the chair's "front" faces. The word "slidingly" is used where "rollingly" could also be used when rollers are involved. The word "pin" is sometimes used where the word "axis" could also be used for pivoting connections. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively the geometric center of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. - Referring to
FIG. 1 - 10 , there is illustrated a first embodiment of the forward sliding recliningswivel chair 10A (herein-after referred to as the "chair" for convenience) configured with a power driven recline mechanism. - The
chair 10A includes awheeled base assembly 13 having anupright support post 14 projecting therefrom. Theupright support post 14 in turn mounts thereon aguide frame 15 which supports aslidable seat 16 which is pivoted to areclinable back support 17, for supporting a seated user/occupant. Thewheeled base assembly 13 includes a set of swivelingcasters 38. Referring toFig. 6 ,seat 16 has a front 18 and rear 19 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 20.Back support 17 has upper 21 and lower 22 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 23. The lowerback support portion 22 is pivotally connected to seatrear portion 19 at pivot pins 24. - In one embodiment, the
upper back portion 21 is pivotally connected near the top thereof toupper guide 25 bypin 26.Upper guide 25 is slidably supported byframe extension 27 ofguide frame 15. Upper backportion 21 is pivotally connected nearhinge 23 tomiddle guide 31 byguide roller 32.Upper guide 25 andmiddle guide roller 32 are slidably supported onframe extension 27 ofguide frame 15. -
Seat front portion 18 is pivotally supported byguides 28 which are slidingly supported and guided by guide supports 29. Seatrear portion 19 is pivotally and sliding supported nearhinge 20 byguides 30 which are slidingly supported by guide supports 39 ofguide frame 15. Seatrear portion 19 is also pivotally and slidingly supported onrollers 34 within guides 33. - In this powered embodiment, a
linear actuator 35 includesmotor 41 andscrew 42. The front end of thelinear actuator 35 is pivotally mounted to frame 15 at pins 36. The rear end oflinear actuator 35 is pivotally mounted tonut 40, at the lower end ofextension arm 37 ofrear seat portion 19 nearrollers 34.Motor 41 may be powered bybattery 43, which may be wire connected through a conventional forward-off-reverse rocker switch (not shown) that is mounted onarm support 44 by a flexible cord (not shown). - The operation of the power driven recline and return
first embodiment 10A of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair is accomplished by the user/occupant actuating a rocker switch, which may be mounted onarmrest support 44 or another desired location. Switching "forward" (to recline) actuates themotor 35, which in turn rotatesscrew 42 so thatnut 40 is threadingly pulled forward. The forward movement ofnut 40drives extension arm 37 of seatrear portion 19 alongguide 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the trajectory ofguides seat front portion 18 andrear portion 19 forward. Guide supports 29 and 39 are angled in a predetermined direction such that the front edge ofseat front portion 18 progressively slopes downward as hingedjunction 20 raises. - As the
seat 16 moves forward, the lower portion ofback support 17 is pulled forward via the pivoting connection between the lowerback support portion 22 and the seatrear portion 19 at pivot pins 24. As thelower portion 22 ofback support 17 moves forward, theback support 17lower portion 22 bends with respect to theupper portion 21 by pivoting abouthinge 23, and theupper edge 46 ofupper portion 21 is consequently pulled downward with theroller 32 traveling downwardly within theroller guide track 31 and theguide 25 traveling downwardly within theguide support 47. The trajectory ofguide 25 androller 32 are controlled by the positioning of theguide support 47 andguide track 31 respectively. The chair is returned from a reclined position to an upright position by the user/occupant actuating "reverse" on the rocker switch onarmrest support 44 which movesseat 16 and backsupport 17 back their respective upright positions. - Referring to
FIG. 11 - 15 , there is illustrated a second embodiment of the forward sliding recliningswivel chair 10B. Thissecond embodiment 10B is also a power driven version that operates the same asversion 10A exceptversion 10B includes angularly adjustableguide support brackets guides - For example, guide
support bracket 50 may be pivotally mounted onguide frame 15 atpivot pin 52 and may be slidably supported onguide frame 15 byshoulder screw 53. As illustrated,extension arm 54 ofguide support bracket 50 is pivotally connected at the lower end 55 to crossconnection bar 56.Cross connection bar 56 has an internally threaded T-portion 57 into which adjusting screw 58 can be turned. Adjusting screw 58 has knob 59 exposed at the forward end to allow easy adjustment. -
Guide support bracket 51 is pivotally mounted onguide frame 15 atpivot pin 62 and is slidably supported onguide frame 15 by shoulder screw 63. Extension arm 64 ofguide support bracket 51 is pivotally connected at thelower end 65 to crossconnection bar 66.Cross connection bar 66 has an internally threaded T-portion 67 into which adjusting screw 68 can be turned. Adjusting screw 68 hasknob 69 exposed at the forward end to allow easy adjustment. By adjusting/turningknobs guide support brackets guides -
FIGS. 16 - 18 illustrate a third embodiment of the forward sliding reclining swivel chair 10C. This embodiment is generally the same as the second embodiment, and additionally includesrollers 72 inguide support brackets Guide 77 includes rollers 78 to reduce guiding friction onguide 75. -
FIGS. 19 - 26 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the forward sliding recliningswivel chair 10D. This embodiment is not motor driven. The recline motions are generally the same as those described above in connection withembodiment 10A and thus will not be described again in detail, except that in this embodiment the movement is powered by gravity and the weight of the user/occupant while acompression spring 80 assists the user/occupant in the return stroke back to upright.Figs. 19 - 23 illustrate a 5-position sequence along the recline/return stroke. - As illustrated, the
chair 10D includes awheeled base assembly 13 having anupright support post 14 projecting therefrom. Theupright support post 14 in turn mounts thereon aguide frame 100 which supports aslidable seat 116 which is pivoted to a reclinableback support 117, for supporting a seated user/occupant. Thewheeled base assembly 13 includes a set of swivelingcasters 38.Seat 116 hasfront 81 and rear 82 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 85.Back support 117 has upper 84 and lower 83 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 87. The lowerback support portion 83 is pivotally connected to seatrear portion 82 at pivot pins 86. - The
upper back portion 84 is pivotally connected near the top thereof to link 89 bypin 88.Link 89 is pivotally connected to seatrear portion bracket 104 atpin 90 at the lower end thereof. Lower backportion 83 is pivotally connected to guideextension 106 at the lower end thereof.Guide extension 106 hasrollers 112 that are slidably connected to guidetrack 93.Seat front portion 81 is pivotally supported byguide extension 102 throughsupport bracket 103.Guide extension 102 hasrollers 113 that are slidingly engaged inguide track 101. Seatrear portion 82 has securely attachedbrackets 118 havingrollers 105.Rollers 105 are slidingly engaged inguide track 94. Seatrear portion 82 hasbracket 108near hinge 85.Bracket 108 hasroller 114 which rolls on guide track 111 oftrack bar 107. -
Guide frame 100 hassupport posts 115 pivotally mounted thereto. Guide pins 110 securely attached to supportposts 115 atattachment point 116 at the forward end thereof. Seatrear portion 82 hasbracket extensions 117 securely attached thereto.Bracket extensions 117 has cross bar 109 pivotally attached thereto. Cross bar 109 hasholes 120 through whichpin 110 is slidingly engaged.Compression spring 80 is guided there through bypin 110 and contained betweensupport posts 115 and cross bar 109. - Upper back
portion 84 hasarmrest support 95 attached thereto. As illustrated,armrest 97 is height adjustably attached toarmrest support 95 atslot 96. -
Figs. 27 - 33 describe a fifth embodiment of the forward sliding recliningswivel chair 10E. Similar to the previous embodiment, this embodiment is not motor driven. Except as described below, the recline motions operate in generally the same manner as described in connection withembodiment 10A, but are powered by gravity and the user/occupant while a compression spring (not shown in these illustrations but is applied similar tocompression spring 80 in the fourth embodiment) assists the user/occupant in the return stroke back from reclined to upright. - The
chair 10E includes awheeled base assembly 13 having anupright support post 14 projecting therefrom. Theupright support post 14 in turn mounts thereon aguide frame 135 which supports aslidable seat 170 which is pivoted to a reclinableback support 171, for supporting a seated user/occupant. Thewheeled base assembly 13 includes a set of swivelingcasters 38.Seat 170 has a front 125 and rear 127 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 126.Back support 171 has upper 128 and lower 129 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 135. The lowerback support portion 129 is pivotally connected to seatrear portion 127 at pivot pins 133. - The
upper back portion 128 is pivotally connected near the bottom thereof to link 130 bypin 131 on upper backportion extension arm 155.Link 130 is pivotally connected to reclinelink 134 atpin 140 at the lower end thereof.Recline link 134 is pivotally connected at the upper end thereof tolower back bracket 137 atpin 152 and pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to guideframe 135 atpin 139. -
Seat front portion 125 may have a securely attachedsupport bracket 141 extending downwardly therefrom. As shown,support bracket 141 is pivotally connected to guidebar 143 atpin 144. The trajectory ofguide bar 143 may be controlled by the positioning and angle ofguide block 165 and guiderollers 166.Guide block 165 is mounted to guideframe 135 and may be angularly adjustable with respect to the guide frame to enable changes in trajectory of theguide bar 143. Seatrear portion 127 has securely attachedbrackets 162 havingrollers 151.Rollers 151 are slidingly engaged inguide track 150. Seatrear portion 127 hasbracket 142 mounted nearhinge 126.Bracket 142 hasroller 145 which rolls onguide track bar 146.Guide track bar 146 is pivotally mounted to crossframe 167 atpin 147 and is adjustably supported by knob-screw 148. -
Back support 171 includesframe portions area 132. In use, theback support 171 may be covered by a support fabric or membrane that is secured to frameportions area 132. -
Figs. 34 - 48 describe a sixth embodiment of the forward sliding recliningswivel chair 10F. This embodiment is not motor driven. Except as described below, the recline motions operate in generally the same manner as described in connection withembodiment 10A, but are powered by gravity and the user/occupant while agas compression spring 280 assists the user/occupant in the return stroke from reclined back to upright. - As illustrated,
chair 10F includes awheeled base assembly 13 having anupright support post 14 projecting therefrom.Upright support post 14 in turn mounts thereonroller guide frame 235 which supportsslidable seat assembly 270 which has pivotally connected thereto a reclinableback support 271, for supporting a seated user/occupant.Support post 14 may include a conventional height adjustable gas spring (not shown) which is height adjustable by actuation of upwardlyprotruding button 290 at the top end thereof. As shown,bracket 291 is pivotally mounted onroller guide frame 235 atpin 292.Bracket 291 haslever 293 securely attached at the lower end thereof.Bracket 291 hassideward extension 294 located abovebutton 290. The momentary lifting oflever 293forces button 290 downward which releases an internal valve of the conventional height adjustable gas spring inpost 14, which allows post 14 to be changed to the user's desired seat height. - The upper face of
seat assembly 270 may be covered by a layer of foam cushioning and fabric, which is not shown. As in the previously described embodiments, thewheeled base assembly 13 may include a set of swivelingcasters 38.Seat 270 hasfront 225 and rear 227 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 226.Back support 271 has upper 228 and lower 229 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 287. The lowerback support portion 229 is pivotally connected to seatrear portion 227 atpivot pin 233 onseat support bracket 262. -
Upper back portion 228 is pivotally connected near the lower end thereof to the upper end of alink 230 bypivot pin 231 on extension arm 255 ofupper back portion 228. The lower end oflink 230 is pivotally connected to link 234 atpin 240. As shown inFig. 40 , link 234 is pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to abracket 237 of lower back 229 atpin 252 and pivotally connected at the upper end thereof to the rearward end oflink 299 atpivot 239.Link 299 is connected toseat support bracket 262 of seatrear portion 227 atpivot 190 at the forward end thereof.Bracket 237 is also pivotally connected to guidebar 248 atpin 218.Guide bar 248 is supported and guided byrollers 246 inroller guide frame 235.Link 230 can be length adjustable when optionally having three parts:upper link 230A,lower link 230B andsleeve link 230C. In the illustrated embodiment,upper link 230A has RH threaded lower end,lower link 230B has LH threaded upper end.Sleeve link 230C has mating RH threaded upper end and a mating LH threaded lower end. -
Seat front portion 225 has securely attachedsupport bracket 241 near the forward end thereof.Support bracket 241 is pivotally connected to guidebar 243 atpin 244. The trajectory ofguide bar 243 is controlled byguide block 265 and guiderollers 266. Seatrear portion 227 has securely attachedbracket 262 havingroller 251.Roller 251 is slidingly engaged inguide track 250.Guide track 250 may includerecess 267 at the rearward end. Pressure from the user's weight pushesseat 271 downward causingroller 251 to engagerecess 267 when 271 is in the most rearward location. Seatrear portion 227 hasbracket 242 securely attached near the rear underside edge thereof.Guide bar 236 is pivotally mounted tobracket 242 atpin 247. The trajectory ofguide bar 236 is controlled byrollers 245 mounted inguide block 265. - Seat
rear portion 227 near the rear underside edge thereof has securely attachedbracket 277 having ball pivot 276 at its rearward end.Roller guide frame 235 has securely attachedbracket 275 projecting forwardly from the upper side thereof.Bracket 275 hasball pivot 274 attached at the forward end thereof.Gas compression spring 280 is pivotally attached to ball pivot 276 at therearward end 273 and theforward end 272 is pivotally attached toball pivot 274. - Seat
rear portion 227 near the sideward edge hasarmrest mount bracket 269 securely attached and extending outward therefrom. Anarmrest assembly 268 may securely attach to thearmrest bracket 269 and may extend upwardly therefrom. The seatrear portion 227 includesplate 253.Plate 253 includesopening 254 andledge 256.Ledge 256 supportsspring plate 257 for improved cushioning of the user's buttocks. -
Back support 271 includesframe portions open area 232. In use, backsupport 271 may have a support fabric or membrane (not shown) secured to frameportions area 232. - As shown in
Figs. 40 and42 , theback support 271 includesarm 288 pivotally connected to extension 255 atpin 231 and is suspended downwardly therefrom.Arm 288 hasbracket 286 slidably/lockably mounted near the lower end thereof.Bracket 286 supportslumbar pressure pad 289.Bracket 286 has twohalves 286A and 286B that clamparm 288 therebetween by the adjustable clamping force of screw-knob 285 thereby makinglumbar pressure pad 289 height adjustable onarm 288. -
Link 234 has mounted thereonspring arm 284 at the lower end thereof. The upper end ofspring arm 284 includeselongated slot 283. At the upper end portion ofspring arm 284,roller bracket 282 is adjustably mounted thereto.Roller bracket 282 has a threaded hole into which screw-knob 281 is attached by passing throughelongated slot 283, clampingspring arm 284 therebetween by the adjustable clamping force of screw-knob 283, thereby makingroller bracket 282 height adjustable onspring arm 284.Roller bracket 282 includesroller 278.Roller 278 contacts therearward face 279 ofarm 288. - Pivots on
link 234,lower back 229, link 299 andbracket 262 form a 4-bar linkage that controls the orientation oflink 234, which keeps the orientation oflink 234 substantially the same, regardless of the recline angle oflower back support 229. Therefore, aslower back 229 reclines, face 279 ofarm 288 is forced againstroller 278. This action causesspring arm 284 to resist rearward movement at the upper end thereof and forces arm 288 to pivot forward with respect to lower back 229, which carrieslumbar pressure pad 289 forward to a greater extent than the forward travel ofseat 270, thereby increasing the support pressure on the user's lumbar area. The extent of forward arcing travel ofarm 288 is determined by the height thatroller 278 contacts face 279. - During the recline and return-to-upright movements,
seat 270 andback support 271 are driven forward and backward respectively by actions initiated by the user. As theback support 271 is reclined, the seatrear portion 227 is caused to move forwardly and also pivot downwardly about an axis defined by theroller 251, and theseat front portion 225 is caused to move forwardly, and also pivot downwardly about the axis of thehinge 226 to increase the angle between the upper surfaces of theseat front portion 225 and seatrear portion 227. - More particularly, as the user urges back
support 271 to recline, lower back 229 pivots downwardly aboutaxis 233, causingpin 218 and the rearward end ofguide bar 248 to pivot downwardly aboutaxis 233, such that the lower back 229 pivots with respect to theseat 270. In an alternative embodiment, the pivoting may occur by structure other than a pivot pin, including a flexible material, a flexible portion of material such as a living hinge, or another type of hinge mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, theguide bar 248 applies pressure torollers 246 which steerguide bar 248 in a forward and downward trajectory which causesseat 270 andaxis 233 to move forwardly. Forward motion ofSeat 270 andaxis 233 results from the cam action pressure ofguide bar 248 againstrollers 246 as lower back 229 arcs downward. Asseat 270 moves forwardly it is generally guided by roller 251 (shown inFig. 44 ) alongtrack 250 onroller guide frame 235. Asseat 270 moves forwardly, theguide bar 236, which is pivotally attached to seatrear portion 227, is carried along and follows a trajectory controlled byrollers 245 inroller guide frame 235. The trajectory ofguide bar 236 as it moves through therollers 245 causes seatrear portion 227 to pivot downwardly aboutaxis 233 asseat 270 moves forwardly. In addition, asseat 270 moves forwardly,guide bar 243, which is pivotally attached to seatfront portion 225, is carried along and follows a trajectory controlled byrollers 265 inroller guide frame 235. The trajectory ofguide bar 243 as it moves through therollers 265 causes theseat front portion 225 to pivot downwardly abouthinge 226 asseat 270 moves forwardly. - As
lower back 229 reclines, pivoting downwardly aboutaxis 233, upper back 228 pivots aboutaxis 287 to decrease the angle between the forward surfaces of theupper back 228 and lower back 229 respectively. More particularly, sincelink 234 remains in substantially the same orientation, link 230, which is connected betweenlink 234 and upper back 228 extension 255, holds upper back 228 in substantially the same orientation throughout its path of travel as it pivots aboutaxis 287 with respect to the reclininglower back 229.Figures 60, 61 illustrate that in similarly functioningembodiments base 13 asseat 270 andaxis 233 move forward. In one embodiment, the initial force required to reclinelower back 229 is increased whenseat 271 is located fully rearward due to the additional force required to driveroller 251 out of therecess 267 inguide track 250. The extent of recline angle of lower back 229 can be controlled by the distance that theguide bar 248 is allowed to travel. The arcing travel of seatrear portion 227 is controlled by the trajectory ofguide bar 236. The arcing travel ofseat front portion 225 is controlled by the trajectory ofguide bar 243. -
Figs. 49-53 describe a seventh embodiment of the forward sliding recliningswivel chair 10G. The basic structure and motions ofchair 10G are nearly identical tochair 10F except that the motions are powered by an electriclinear actuator 380 that replacesgas spring 280.Roller guide frame 335 includes all the components ofroller guide frame 235 exceptbracket 275 andball pivot 274 are replaced bybracket 375 andpivot pin 374. Seatrear portion 327 includes all the components of seatrear portion 227 exceptbracket 277 andball pivot 276 are replaced bybracket 377 andpivot pin 376.Linear actuator 380 includesbody portion 310 and driverod 396.Body portion 310 includesmotor 394 and screwhousing 395.Linear actuator 380 is pivotally attached tobracket 377 atpivot pin 376 near therearward end 397 ofscrew housing 395 thereof. Driverod 396 is pivotally attached tobracket 375 atpivot pin 374 at the forward end thereof. The operation oflinear actuator 380 is conventional in that, the shaft (not shown) ofmotor 394 rotates a jackscrew (not shown) withinscrew housing 395. The rearward end (not shown) ofdrive rod 396 includes a threaded nut that is engaged with the jackscrew. Jackscrew rotation in one direction extendsdrive rod 396 outward frombody portion 310. Jackscrew rotation in the opposite direction retractsdrive rod 396 inwardly intobody portion 310. -
Motor 394 is powered bybattery 343 which is wire connected through a conventional Forward-off-reverse rocker switch (not shown) that is mounted onarmrest support 268 by a flexible cord (not shown). The operation of the power driven recline and return motions of theseventh embodiment 10G are accomplished by the user/occupant actuating the rocker switch onarmrest support 268. Switching the rocker switch to "forward" (to recline) rotates motor and jackscrew so that the nut ondrive rod 396 is threadingly pulled rearward, retractingdrive rod 396. Retractingdrive rod 396 pullsbody portion 310 forward,seat 270 forward andlower backrest 229 forward and downward, while simultaneously proportionally bending the upward surface ofseat 270 and the forward surface ofbackrest 271. Switching the rocker switch to "reverse" (to return upright) rotates motor and jackscrew so that the nut ondrive rod 396 is threadingly pushed forward, extendingdrive rod 396. Extendingdrive rod 396 pushesbody portion 310 rearward,seat 270 rearward andlower backrest 229 rearward and upward, while simultaneously proportionally straightening the bend in the upper surface ofseat 270 and the bend in the forward surface ofbackrest 271. -
Figs. 54 - 58 describe an eighth embodiment of the forward sliding recliningswivel chair 10H. This embodiment is not motor driven. The recline motions are powered by gravity and the user/occupant while agas compression spring 480 assists the user/occupant in the return stroke from reclined back to upright. -
Chair 10H includes awheeled base assembly 13 having anupright support post 14 projecting therefrom which includes a conventional height adjustable gas spring (not shown).Upright support post 14 in turn mounts thereonroller guide frame 435 which supportsslidable seat assembly 470 which has pivotally connected thereto reclinableback support 471, for supporting a seated user/occupant. - The upper face of
seat assembly 470 will normally be covered by a layer of foam cushioning and fabric, which is not shown. Thewheeled base assembly 13 includes a set of swivelingcasters 38.Seat 470 hasfront 425 and rear 427 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge 426. -
Back support 471 has upper 428 and lower 429 portions that are pivotally connected byhinge pivot 487. Lower backsupport portion 429 is pivotally connected to seatrear portion 427 atpivot pin 433 onseat support bracket 462 for angular travel between upright and reclined positions.Upper back portion 428 is pivotally connected near the lower end thereof to the upper end oflink 430 bypivot pin 431 onextension arm 455 ofupper back portion 428.Guide bar 448 includes securely attachedbracket 434 at the rearward end thereof.Bracket 434 includespivot 440 near the upper end thereof.Link 430 is pivotally connected to guidebar 448 atpivot 440 at the lower end thereof. Lower backportion 429 is also pivotally connected to guidebar 448 atpivot 418 for controlling the extent of upright to recline angular travel.Guide bar 448 is supported and guided byrollers 446 inroller guide frame 435. -
Guide bar 448 betweenpivots lower back portion 429 betweenpivots pivots pivots upper back 428. Due to the straight trajectory ofguide bar 448, guided byrollers 446, as disclosed inchair 10H, the orientation ofupper back 428 remains substantially the same regardless of the recline angle oflower back support 429. -
Seat front portion 425 has securely attachedsupport bracket 441 near the forward end thereof.Support bracket 441 is pivotally connected to guidebar 443 atpivot 444. The trajectory ofguide bar 443 is controlled by guide block 465 and guide rollers 466. Seatrear portion 427 has securely attachedbracket 462 and includes securely attachedguide roller 451.Guide roller 451 is slidingly engaged inguide track 450. Seatrear portion 427 includesbracket 442 near the rear underside edge thereof.Guide bar 436 is pivotally attached tobracket 442 atpivot 447. The trajectory ofguide bar 436 is supported and controlled by rollers 445 mounted in guide block 465. - Seat
rear portion 427 near the rear underside edge thereof includesbracket 477 having ball pivot 476 at its rearward end.Roller guide frame 435 includesbracket 475 projecting forwardly from the upper side thereof.Bracket 475 hasball pivot 474 attached at the forward end thereof.Gas compression spring 480 is pivotally attached to ball pivot 476 at the rearward end 473 and the forward end 472 is pivotally attached toball pivot 474. - Seat
rear portion 427 near the sideward edge includes armrest mount bracket 469 extending outward therefrom. Armrest bracket 469 has securely and height-adjustably attached armrest assembly 468 extending upwardly therefrom. -
Back support 471 includesframe portions support 471 will have a support fabric or membrane (not shown) secured to frameportions - Lower back
portion 429 hasarm 488 pivotally attached atpivot 453 and projecting upwardly therefrom.Arm 488 has bracket 486 mounted near the upper end thereof. Bracket 486 supportslumbar pressure pad 489. -
Spring arm 484 is securely mounted onbracket 434 ofguide bar 448 at the lower end thereof.Roller mount bracket 482 is mounted near the upper end ofspring arm 484.Roller 478 is pivotally attached toroller mount bracket 482.Roller 478 contacts the rearward face 479 ofarm 488. - As
lower back 429 reclines, face 479 ofarm 488 is forced againstroller 478. This action causesspring arm 484 to resist reward movement at the upper end thereof and forces arm 488 to pivot forward with respect toseat 470, which carrieslumbar pressure pad 489 forward to a greater extent than the forward travel ofseat 470, thereby increasing the support pressure on the user's lumbar area. The extent of forward arcing travel ofarm 488 is determined by the initial location (height) thatroller 478 contacts face 479. - During the recline and return-to-upright strokes,
seat 470 andback support 471 are driven forward and backward respectively. The forward travel results from the cam action pressure ofguide bar 448 againstrollers 446 as lower back 429 arcs downward. The extent of recline angle oflower back 429 is controlled by thedistance guide bar 448 is allowed to travel. The arcing travel of seatrear portion 427 is controlled by the trajectory ofguide bar 436. The arcing travel ofseat front portion 425 is controlled by the trajectory ofguide bar 443. -
Figs. 59 - 61 describe a ninth embodiment of the forward sliding recliningswivel chair 10J. This embodiment is identical toembodiment 10F (Figs. 34-48 ) with the addition of aheadrest support 215 extending upwardly fromupper portion 228 ofback support 271. In bothFigs. 60 and 61 , verticalphantom line 217 aligns withpivot 233 and verticalphantom line 216 aligns withpivot 287 indicating the horizontal locations ofpivots base 13 in full upright (fig. 60 ) and fully reclined (fig. 61 ). - The seat forward movement distance for the above embodiments ranges from 10-inches for
chair 10A to 6-inches forchair 10F. The best forward movement range is five to seven inches. To maintain user viewing distance, the best performance for any of the above embodiments is achieved when the seat back upper portion does not move significantly rearward as the seat moves forward. - The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles "a," "an," "the" or "said," is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
Claims (11)
- A chair for supporting a seated user on a floor surface while the seated user is performing tasks, comprising:a base (13);a seat (16) configured for forwardly guided movement with respect to said base (13), said seat including front and rear portions (18, 19) connected by a central flexible region (20) enabling said seat front portion (18) to flex with respect to said seat rear portion (19), each of said seat front portion (18) and said seat rear portion (19) including an upward face; anda backrest (17) connected to said seat (16) at a pivot axis to pivot with respect to said seat (16) between upright and reclining positions,wherein movement of said backrest (17) from said upright position to said reclining position causes both of said seat (16) and said pivot axis to move forward with respect to said base (13), and causes said seat front portion (18) to flex with respect to said seat rear portion (19) at said central flexible region (20), wherein the angle between said upward faces of said seat front portion (18) and said seat rear portion (19) increases and the front edge of the seat front portion (18) moves forwardly and also pivots downwardly about the central flexible region (20).
- A chair according to claim 1 wherein said forwardly guided movement of said seat (16) and said angular increase between said upward faces of said seat front portion (18) and said seat rear portion (19) are proportional to said backrest rotation.
- A chair according to claim 2 wherein said backrest (17) includes a lumbar support pad (289) mounted thereon and wherein said lumbar support pad is caused to move relative to said backrest (17) in a direction toward the seated occupant's lower back as said backrest rotates from said upright position to said reclining position.
- A chair according to claim 2 wherein said backrest (17) has upper and lower portions (21, 22) connected by a flexible region (23) therebetween, such that said upper portion (21) can flex with respect to said lower portion (22) at said flexible region (23), each of said upper and lower portions including a forwardly facing surface,
wherein the angle between said forwardly facing surfaces of said upper and lower portions decreases as said backrest (17) rotates from upright to reclining positions. - A chair according to claim 3 wherein said backrest has upper and lower portions (21, 22) connected by a flexible region (23) therebetween, such that said upper portion (21) can flex with respect to said lower portion (22) at said flexible region (23), each of said upper and lower portions including a forwardly facing surface,
wherein the angle between said forwardly facing surfaces of said upper and lower portions decreases as said backrest lower portion (22) rotates from upright to reclining positions. - A chair according to claim 5 wherein said backrest upper portion (21) includes a generally upwardly extending headrest support structure (215) and wherein said headrest support structure maintains its orientation relative to said base (13) as said backrest lower portion (22) rotates from upright to reclining positions.
- A chair according to claim 1 wherein said seat rear portion (19) includes at least one upwardly extending armrest structure (44) extending therefrom.
- A chair according to claim 5 wherein said backrest upper portion (21) includes at least one forwardly extending armrest structure (95,97) extending therefrom.
- A chair according to claim 2 wherein the movement of said backrest (17) with respect to said seat (16) from said reclining position to said upright position, movement of the pivot axis rearwardly, and decrease in the angle between said upward faces of said seat portion are spring assisted.
- A chair according to claim 2 wherein the movement of said backrest (17) with respect to said seat (16) from said reclining position to said upright position, movement of the pivot axis rearwardly, and decrease in the angle between said upward faces of said seat portion are driven by an electric motor.
- A chair for supporting a seated user on a floor surface while the seated user is performing tasks, comprising:a base (13);a seat (16) configured for forwardly guided movement with respect to said base (13), said seat including front and rear portions (18, 19) connected by a hinged junction (20) enabling said seat front portion (18) to pivot with respect to said seat rear portion (19), each of said seat front portion (18) and said seat rear portion (19) including an upward face; anda backrest (17) connected to said seat (16) at a pivot axis to pivot with respect to said seat (16) between upright and reclining positions,wherein movement of said backrest (17) from said upright position to said reclining position causes both of said seat (16) and said pivot axis to move forward with respect to said base (13), and causes said seat front portion (18) to pivot with respect to said seat rear portion (19) at said hinged junction (20), wherein the angle between said upward faces of said seat front portion (18) and said seat rear portion (19) increases and the front edge of the seat front portion (18) moves forwardly and also pivots downwardly about the hinged junction (20).
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US201161520391P | 2011-06-09 | 2011-06-09 | |
PCT/US2012/041626 WO2012170863A2 (en) | 2011-06-09 | 2012-06-08 | Forward sliding reclining chair |
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EP2717742B1 true EP2717742B1 (en) | 2015-12-16 |
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GB0128301D0 (en) * | 2001-11-27 | 2002-01-16 | Siddall & Hilton Ltd | Adustable beds or recliners |
US7585028B2 (en) * | 2005-02-09 | 2009-09-08 | Jenkins Jeffrey B | Mobile ergonomic rotating adjustable chair with lumbar support |
BRPI0823266A2 (en) | 2007-01-29 | 2013-11-12 | Miller Herman Inc | SEAT STRUCTURE AND METHODS FOR USE |
US7611202B2 (en) * | 2007-12-12 | 2009-11-03 | L & P Property Management Company | Tilt mechanism for a chair |
JP5514509B2 (en) * | 2009-10-26 | 2014-06-04 | 株式会社イトーキ | Rocking chair |
-
2012
- 2012-06-08 EP EP12728151.7A patent/EP2717742B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2012-06-08 ES ES12728151.7T patent/ES2565385T3/en active Active
- 2012-06-08 US US14/124,914 patent/US20140103688A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-06-08 WO PCT/US2012/041626 patent/WO2012170863A2/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2012170863A3 (en) | 2013-04-18 |
EP2717742A2 (en) | 2014-04-16 |
US20140103688A1 (en) | 2014-04-17 |
WO2012170863A2 (en) | 2012-12-13 |
ES2565385T3 (en) | 2016-04-04 |
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