GB2304278A - Reclinable chair - Google Patents

Abstract

A reclinable chair is formed from a plurality of struts as a frame supporting a flexible chair seat (80). The chair back (14) can be reclined to one of a plurality of positions, determined by a back rest support (44) and a plurality of pairs of slots (50) on two rear frame sections (24). An actuator bar (52) with a handle (57) extends towards the front of the chair and is operable from a seating position. A pivotable foot rest (62) is coupled to the back rest (14) through two arm rests (60) and pivots with the back rest (14). The chair can be returned to the sitting configuration by applying downward pressure on the foot rest (66). A seat height adjuster (34) is also provided.

Description

RECLINABLE CHAIR The present invention relates to a reclinable chair.

Reclinable chairs have been known for many years. A typical example is a deck chair which can be set in a sitting position or pivoted to one or more reclined positions, each at a different angle relative to the vertical.

A problem with many forms of reclinable chairs, particularly of the deck chair type, is that the reclining mechanism is awkward and generally requires the user to get up off the chair to operate the mechanism.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved reclinable chair.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reclinable chair including a base section comprising a first pair of substantially parallel frame sect ions extending from front feet to a rear of the chair and a second pair of substantially parallel frame sections extending from rear feet to a front of the chair; a pair of back rest struts pivotably connected to a rear end of the first pair of frame sections; a seat coupled to at least one of the struts; and an adjusting mechanism operative to adjust the angle of the back rest relative to the base section, the adjusting mechanism being operable from a sitting position in the chair.

The adjusting mechanism preferably includes a back rest support coupled to the backrest and engageable in one or more support means provided on the second pair of frame sections, each support means being provided at a different distance relative to the back rest so as to provide a different angle of inclination of the back rest.

There is preferably provided a foot rest pivotably secured to the second pair of frame sections and coupling means coupling the foot rest to the back rest so as to cause the foot rest to pivot on pivoting of the back rest.

The foot rest may provide a lever to pivot the back rest towards an upright position on movement of the foot rest towards a lowered position. The back rest may also be movable to the upright position by means of the actuator.

Advantageously, a seat height adjuster is located at a forward position of the chair between the first and second pairs of frame sections for adjusting their position relative to one another and as a result the height of the seat.

An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of reclinable chair in an upright configuration; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the chair of Figure 1 in a reclined configuration; Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the chair of Figure 1 in the upright configuration; Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the chair of Figure 1 in the reclined configuration of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the chair of Figure 1 in a reclined configuration.

Referring to the Figures, the embodiment of chair shown is of a form similar to that of a deck chair, having a plurality of wooden struts coupled together to form the chair frame and pivoting mechanism. The chair can be collapsed into a relatively small volume, as will be described below in further detail.

The basic frame of the chair includes two substantially parallel frame sect ions 12 each having a first end which forms a front foot of the chair and inclines upwardly, when the chair is assembled, to a second end pivoted to a respective backrest frame section 14 and located just behind the seat area 16 of the chair. The two back rest sections 14 end at a headrest 18, which in this embodiment is fixed to each of the back rest sect ions 14 to provide a rigid coupling at this portion of the chair. In the embodiment shown, the head rest 18 includes a curved cut-out section providing a handle for facilitating carrying of the chair.

Close to the feet of the frame sections 12 there are provided, in this embodiment, two support struts 20 and 22 which have the purpose of securing the frame sect ions 12 at the required distance from one another and of determining the height of the seat 16, as described in further detail below.

Two rear frame sect ions 24 extend substantially parallel to one another and are pivotably secured to the frame sections 12 by respective pivots 26. A first end of each rear frame section forms a rear foot of the chair, while the second end is coupled to a footrest 62, described in further detail below. Adjacent the second end of each rear frame section there is provided a support strut 28 fixed to the frame section 24 and of a length the same as that of the head rest 18, the frame sections 24 lying within the boundary of the frame sections 12. A support strut 32 (best seen in Figure 2) secures together the foot ends of the rar frame sections 24.

Coupled at an intermediate position on the rear frame sections 24, between the pivots 26 and second ends of the frame sections 24, there is provided a pivotable seat height adjuster 34. The seat height adjuster comprises two upright struts 36 (best seen in Figures 1 and 5) each pivotably coupled to one of the rear frame sections 24 at a pivot 38.

A transverse strut 40 (best seen in Figure 5) couples the two upright struts 36 together and provides the required rigidity for the adjuster 34.

In the embodiment shown, the seat height adjuster 34 can be rested on either of the two support struts 20, 22 and this will determine the height of the seat 16 relative to the ground. For this purpose, the ends of the upright struts 36 may be provided with securing means, such as a V-shaped groove in their ends, which can engage the struts 20, 22.

As will be apparent from Figures 1 and 2 in particular, once the seat height adjuster 34 is set on one of the support struts 20, 22, the chair portion formed by the frame sections 12 and 24 becomes set in position.

Coupled at an intermediate position along each back rest section 14, there is provided a pivot point 42 to which there is coupled a back rest adjusting frame 44. The back rest adjuster 44 is formed of two substantially parallel sections 46 coupled at their free ends to a positioning strut 48 (best seen in Figure 5) which is engageable in respective slots 50 located in the rear frame sections 24.

Pivotably coupled to the free end of one of the back rest adjuster sections 46 there is provided an actuator 52 pivotably connected to the adjuster 44 by a pivot 54. The actuator 52 is an elongate member which, in this embodiment, extends substantially parallel to the adjacent rear frame section 24 and includes an elongate slot 56 along which a supporting pin 58 slides. A handle 57 is located at the free end of the actuator 52.

In an alternative embodiment, two actuators 52 are provided, one on either side of the chair.

Also coupled to each pivot 42 on the seat back sect ions 14 is a first end of an arm rest 60. The second end of each arm rest 60 is pivotably coupled to the foot rest 62 at a pivot 64.

The foot rest 62 includes two upright sect ions 66 each coupled to the second end of a respective arm rest 60 and also, at an intermediate pivot point 68, to the end of a respective rear frame section 24. A plurality of rods 70 of circular axial cross-section extend across the foot rest uprights 66 and form the foot rest itself. As will be apparent from the Figures, the foot rest 62 has a curved profile for comfort. In an alternative embodiment, the rods 70 are replaced by profiled slats.

The seat 16 of the chair is formed from an array of slats disposed side by side and coupled to one another by two strips 82 of flexible material (best seen in Figure 5).

The chair is normally in an upright position as shown in Figure 1, enabling easy movement into an out of the chair.

Once seated, the back rest can be reclined by raising one's back off the back rest 14 and by moving the actuator backwardly so as to move the positioning strut 48 towards one of the lower pair of slots 50. If necessary, the actuator can be used as a lever pivoting around the pin 58 to raise the positioning strut from the slots 50 within which it originally rests.

It will be appreciated that when the arm rests 60 and foot rest 62 are provided, movement of the back rest 14 will, by virtue of the various couplings, cause the foot rest 62 to pivot upwardly. In the most reclined position, the chair takes the form shown in Figure 2, which, in the preferred embodiment, locates the user substantially horizontally.

The length of the slot 56 in the actuator 52 is designed so as to prevent backward tilting of the back rest beyond the chosen lowermost pair of slots 50, thereby ensuring that the chair cannot fall backwardly. Suitable lengths for the armrests and portions of the foot rest uprights 66 up to the pivots 68 can also limit the degree of tilting of the back rest 14 relative to the rear frame sections 24.

The chair can be brought back to its upright position, either for leaving the chair or to return to a sitting position merely by applying downward leg pressure on the foot rest 62 or by the actuator 52. The lever action through the pivots 68 and arm rests 60 act on the back rest sections 14 to pivot these around their pivots up to the upright position of Figure 1. Of course, this movement can be stopped at any stage, for example if it is desired move the chair to one of its intermediate reclined positions.

It is possible to collapse the chair to a small volume by bringing the back rest support 44 up to the top of the back rest 14, disengaging the seat height adjuster 34 and then pivoting backwardly the front frame sections 12 towards the rear frame sections 24 such that the four feet come together.

In an alternative embodiment, the back rest adjuster 44 and actuator 50 can be replaced by a suitable control and locking mechanism located at the pivot 25 between the backrest sections 14 and front frame sections 12. The structure of such an adjuster will be apparent to the skilled person. In this embodiment, the foot rest 62 and arm rest 60 could still be included, in order to provide the easy return mechanism.

The chair is preferably made entirely of wood, although the pivots and other securing means may be of metal for strength.

Claims (11)

1. A reclinable chair including a base section comprising a first pair of substantially parallel frame sections extending from front feet to a rear of the chair and a second pair of substantially parallel frame sect ions extending from rear feet to a front of the chair; a pair of back rest struts pivotably connected to a rear end of the first pair of frame sections; a seat coupled to at least one of the struts; and an adjusting mechanism operative to adjust the angle of the back rest relative to the base section, the adjusting mechanism being operable from a sitting position in the chair.

2. A reclinable chair according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism includes a back rest support coupled to the backrest and engageable in one or more support means provided on the second pair of frame sections, each support means being provided at a different distance relative to the back rest so as to provide a different angle of inclination of the back rest.

3. A reclinable chair according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting mechanism includes an actuator extending from the back rest support to a position substantially in front of the back rest.

4. A reclinable chair according to claim 3, wherein the actuator is an elongate member movable to and fro so as to change an angle of pivot of the back rest support relative to the base of the chair and thereby its position relative to the plurality of support means.

5. A reclinable chair according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting mechanism is provided at the pivot between the back rest and the first pair of frame sections.

6. A reclinable chair according to any preceding claim, comprising a foot rest pivotably secured to the second pair of frame sections and coupling means coupling the foot rest to the back rest so as to cause the foot rest to pivot on pivoting of the back rest.

7. A reclinable chair according to claim 6, wherein the foot rest provides a lever to pivot the back rest towards an upright position on movement of the foot rest towards a lowered position.

8. A reclinable chair according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the coupling means provides two arm rests.

9. A reclinable chair according to any preceding claim comprising a seat height adjuster located at a forward position of the chair between the first and second pairs of frame sect ions for adjusting their position relative to one another and as a result the height of the seat

10. A reclinable chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the chair seat is formed from an array of slats disposed side by side and coupled together my means of one or more flexible strips of material.

11. A reclinable chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.