GB2025214A

GB2025214A - Seat with a retractable leg rest

Info

Publication number: GB2025214A
Application number: GB7924301A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TRECA GROUPE
Current assignee: TRECA GROUPE
Priority date: 1978-07-12
Filing date: 1979-07-12
Publication date: 1980-01-23
Also published as: FR2430742A1; FR2430742B1; GB2025214B; DE2928258A1; IT7924230A0; IT1122098B

Abstract

A seat 2,3 has a leg-rest 6 which is carried by the frame 1 of the seat and is movable between a retracted position 6 and a position 6a in which it is located at a certain distance in front of the seat extending obliquely relative to the latter. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seat with a retractable leg rest The present invention relates to a seat with a retractable leg rest.

According to the invention there is provided a seat having a leg-rest which is carried by the frame of the seat and which is movable between a retracted position and a position in which it is located at a certain distance in front of the seat, being obliquely oriented relative to the seat.

The leg rest may, for example, be articulated on the movable elements of sliders the fixed extremities of which are fast with the seat frame, and be connected to one end of a connecting rod which is articulated on one of the movable elements of the sliders and the other end of which carries a guiding pawl or lug engaging in a fixed aperture. If at least one portion of this aperture extends in an oblique direction relative to the direction of displacement of the movable elements of the sliders, the leg-rest pivots relative to these movable elements when it is moved away from the seat. It thus can be substantally vertical in its retracted position and can assume the desired oblique position in its position of use.

In an advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, that part of the sliders in which the guiding lug is located when the leg-rest is in its position of use has an elevation which allows a vertical displacement of this guiding lug. The user can thus tilt the leg-rest to give a position ensuring maximum comfort.

In the following a form of embodiment of the invention will be described by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a seat according to the invention showing the leg-rest and its connection with the frame of the seat; and Figures 2 and 3 are detail views of Figure 1, showing the leg-rest in various positions of use.

The drawing shows a seat comprising a frame 1 supporting a seat cushion 2 and a back-rest 3. This framework is preferably slidably mounted relative to a framework not shown and constituted, for example, by the body of a vehicle.

To the frame 1 are attached the fixed elements 4 of two sliders which are each disposed on a side of the seat and the movable elements of which are shown at 5. A leg-rest 6 is articulated on axles 7 carried by the free external ends of the elements 5.

A connecting rod 8 is mounted pivotally on an axle 9 carried by the movable element 5 of one of the sliders. At one of its ends, the connecting rod 8 has an aperture 10 into which there is engaged a pin 11 carried by an arm 12 fast with the leg-rest 6. At its other extremity, the connecting rod 8 carries a guiding lug 13; this lug is engaged into an aperture 14 formed in a vertical flange 15 fast with the frame 1.

That portion of aperture 14 which is the most remote from the forward edge of the seat is relatively narrow, which simply allows the lug 13 to slide along it.

By contrast, at its opposite end, the aperture has a greater width, because it extends upwards as indicated at 14a. The narrow portion of the aperture 14 is oblique relative to the direction of movement of the elements 5, whereas the edges of its wide portion 14a are substantially parallel to this direction. A helical torsion spring 16 is disposed around the axle 9, with its end bearing respectively on the connecting rod 8 and on the corresponding movable element 5, which spring tends to hold the connecting rod in a position in which the lug 13 bears on the lower edge of aperture 14.

When at rest, the leg-rest 6 occupies the position illustrated in Figure 1 in which it is substantiallyvertical, bearing against the front face of the seat or partly lodged in the latter.

By pulling on the movable elements 5 of the sliders by some intervening means, for example the leg-rest 6, this leg-rest can be brought to a certain distance in front of the seat as illustrated in Figure 2 and as indicated at 6a in Figure 1; in this position, the leg-rest is obliquely oriented. Since the guiding lug 13 is then situated in the widened portion of the slide 14, the user can tilt the leg-rest about the axles 7 (Figure 3) to increase its inclination and to bring it into a position giving him the greatest comfort.

When the leg-rest is freed, the spring 16 returns it automatically into the position shown in Figure 2.

The leg-rest can tilt at any time after the guiding lug 13 has arrived in the widened portion 14a of slide 14, that is to say when this leg-rest is situated between the position 6a where its distance from the seat is at maximum, and an intermediate position 6b.

The comfort can be further increased by additionally displacing the frame 1 relative to the fixed framework.

1. A seat having a leg-rest which is carried by the frame of the seat and which is movable between a retracted position in which it is located at a certain distance in front of the seat, being obliquely oriented relative to the seat.

2. A seat according to claim 1, characterised in that the leg-rest is articulated on movable elements of sliders which also have fixed elements fast with the frame, and is connected to one end of a connecting rod which is articulated on one of the movable elements of the sliders and the other end of which carries a guiding lug engaging in a fixed aperture.

3. A seat according to claim 2, characterised in that at least one portion of the aperture extends in an oblique direction relative to the direction of displacement of the movable elements of the sliders.

4. A seat according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the portion of the slider in which the guiding lug is located when leg-rest is in the user position has an elevation which allows a vertical movement of this lug.

5. A seat according to claim 4, including resilient means inter-posing between the connecting rod and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seat with a retractable leg rest The present invention relates to a seat with a retractable leg rest. According to the invention there is provided a seat having a leg-rest which is carried by the frame of the seat and which is movable between a retracted position and a position in which it is located at a certain distance in front of the seat, being obliquely oriented relative to the seat. The leg rest may, for example, be articulated on the movable elements of sliders the fixed extremities of which are fast with the seat frame, and be connected to one end of a connecting rod which is articulated on one of the movable elements of the sliders and the other end of which carries a guiding pawl or lug engaging in a fixed aperture. If at least one portion of this aperture extends in an oblique direction relative to the direction of displacement of the movable elements of the sliders, the leg-rest pivots relative to these movable elements when it is moved away from the seat. It thus can be substantally vertical in its retracted position and can assume the desired oblique position in its position of use. In an advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, that part of the sliders in which the guiding lug is located when the leg-rest is in its position of use has an elevation which allows a vertical displacement of this guiding lug. The user can thus tilt the leg-rest to give a position ensuring maximum comfort. In the following a form of embodiment of the invention will be described by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a seat according to the invention showing the leg-rest and its connection with the frame of the seat; and Figures 2 and 3 are detail views of Figure 1, showing the leg-rest in various positions of use. The drawing shows a seat comprising a frame 1 supporting a seat cushion 2 and a back-rest 3. This framework is preferably slidably mounted relative to a framework not shown and constituted, for example, by the body of a vehicle. To the frame 1 are attached the fixed elements 4 of two sliders which are each disposed on a side of the seat and the movable elements of which are shown at 5. A leg-rest 6 is articulated on axles 7 carried by the free external ends of the elements 5. A connecting rod 8 is mounted pivotally on an axle 9 carried by the movable element 5 of one of the sliders. At one of its ends, the connecting rod 8 has an aperture 10 into which there is engaged a pin 11 carried by an arm 12 fast with the leg-rest 6. At its other extremity, the connecting rod 8 carries a guiding lug 13; this lug is engaged into an aperture 14 formed in a vertical flange 15 fast with the frame 1. That portion of aperture 14 which is the most remote from the forward edge of the seat is relatively narrow, which simply allows the lug 13 to slide along it. By contrast, at its opposite end, the aperture has a greater width, because it extends upwards as indicated at 14a. The narrow portion of the aperture 14 is oblique relative to the direction of movement of the elements 5, whereas the edges of its wide portion 14a are substantially parallel to this direction. A helical torsion spring 16 is disposed around the axle 9, with its end bearing respectively on the connecting rod 8 and on the corresponding movable element 5, which spring tends to hold the connecting rod in a position in which the lug 13 bears on the lower edge of aperture 14. When at rest, the leg-rest 6 occupies the position illustrated in Figure 1 in which it is substantiallyvertical, bearing against the front face of the seat or partly lodged in the latter. By pulling on the movable elements 5 of the sliders by some intervening means, for example the leg-rest 6, this leg-rest can be brought to a certain distance in front of the seat as illustrated in Figure 2 and as indicated at 6a in Figure 1; in this position, the leg-rest is obliquely oriented. Since the guiding lug 13 is then situated in the widened portion of the slide 14, the user can tilt the leg-rest about the axles 7 (Figure 3) to increase its inclination and to bring it into a position giving him the greatest comfort. When the leg-rest is freed, the spring 16 returns it automatically into the position shown in Figure 2. The leg-rest can tilt at any time after the guiding lug 13 has arrived in the widened portion 14a of slide 14, that is to say when this leg-rest is situated between the position 6a where its distance from the seat is at maximum, and an intermediate position 6b. The comfort can be further increased by additionally displacing the frame 1 relative to the fixed framework. CLAIMS

5. A seat according to claim 4, including resilient means inter-posing between the connecting rod and the corresponding movable element, said means tending to cause the connecting rod to pivot relative to said movable element.

6. A seat according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the frame of the seat is movable relative to a fixed framework, for example relative to the body of a vehicle.

7. A seat having a leg-rest substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.