GB2384980A

GB2384980A - Recliner chair and component therefore

Info

Publication number: GB2384980A
Application number: GB0301766A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stennet Sloan Chesser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-31
Filing date: 2003-01-27
Publication date: 2003-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-27
Also published as: GB0301766D0; GB2384980B; GB0202193D0

Abstract

A recliner chair has a removable seat back 14 connected to the seat base by means of a projecting peg 40 and a cooperating channel 60 at each side of the chair, the chair having at least two projecting pegs 60, or at least two channels 60, at each side of the chair. A component 42 comprises two projecting pegs 40a, 4b mounted on a common mounting means 52, or two channels 62 mounted on a common mounting means 62, the mounting means having apertures 46, 66 to enable it to be secured to the chair. The distance between the pegs differs from that between the channels to allow the seat back to be mounted in different positions relative to the seat base.

Description

RECLINER CHAIR AND COMPONENT THEREFOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a recliner chair, and to a component therefor. The chair may be a recliner chair with or without a movable leg-rest, or may be a"riser recliner" having a mechanism to assist the user rising to a standing position.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In the following description, orientational and directional terms such as"front","height","raise"etc. relate to the chair in its normal orientation of use.

Recliner chairs are chairs in which the seat back can pivot or move to alter its angle of orientation relative to the horizontal, to the seat base or to both, allowing the user to adopt a more or less inclined position. In general, there are two types of recliner chairs. With"two-way recliner chairs"the seat back is connected to the seat base at a fixed orientation, and when the chair reclines both the seat back and seat base move together and maintain their relative orientation. With"three-way recliner chairs"the seat back can adopt a varying angle relative to the seat base, allowing the chair to adopt a"fully reclined" position in which the seat base and seat back are at a shallow relative angle.

Typically, the chair will also have a movable leg-rest, i. e. a padded support which is able to move to lift and support the lower part of the user's legs off the ground. If the chair is a riser recliner it will also have a mechanism which raises the seat base and generally also the seat back of the chair, and therefore the occupant towards or into a standing position, i. e. the mechanism raises the front and

rear of the chair continuously up to a predetermined position (the rear of the chair being raised by a greater amount) to reduce the effort required by the user in raising himself or herself to a standing position.

In the U. K. the chairs, and in particular the riser recliner chairs, are often used by local authorities whose social services department"loan"them to infirm persons for use in their home. The provision of such a chair may allow a person to remain in his or her home when otherwise he or she would be required to move into managed accommodation.

Similar provision of riser recliner chairs for infirm people exists in other countries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Many types of two-way recliner chairs are known, but all comprise a seat base and a seat back which are connected together at a fixed relative angle. The mechanism (which is usually electrically operated) which powers the reclining motion (and also the riser motion if provided) is located within the seat base, and comprises (typically) an electric motor driving a shaft which moves a set of connected levers to create the movement required of the chair parts.

Also, many types of three-way recliner chairs are known, and have a more complex mechanism than a two-way recliner chair which mechanism includes further componentry to allow the seat back to pivot relative to the seat base.

The chairs are usually upholstered, the upholstery hiding the mechanism and increasing the aesthestic appearance and comfort of the chair. The chair will typically have upholstered arms for increasing the comfort of the user.

Such chairs are typically large and heavy, and to enable them to be more readily stored, transported and moved into

and out of a person's home, the seat back is often removable. To enable the seat back to be removable, in most of the prior art designs the seat base carries a pair of projecting pegs (one to each side of the chair) and the seat back carries a pair of channel elements, each of which can be located upon a respective projecting peg. The projecting pegs and the channel sections are metallic and are designed to be sufficiently rigid to maintain the desired orientation of the seat back.

The pegs and channel elements are sized and shaped to cooperate closely and to limit relative movement so that when the seat back is fitted to the seat base there is little or no freedom of movement therebetween. The orientation of the projecting pegs relative to the seat base, and the orientation of the channel elements upon the seat back, together determine the relative angle of the seat back.

Typically, a mechanism is provided to prevent the inadvertent separation of the seat back from the seat base (as might otherwise occur if the seat back is used to move the chair around a room, for example). However, when the seat back is desired to be removed the mechanism can be released to allow the channel element to be separated (pulled off) from its respective projecting peg.

The structural strength of the seat base and seat back of the chair is typically provided by respective (wooden) frames. The projecting pegs and channel elements are apertured so as to receive screws or the like by means of which they may be secured to one or other of the wooden frames.

A recognised feature with such chairs is that the seat depth (i. e. the distance between the bottom of the seat back and the front edge of the seat base) is fixed. Thus, it is not always possible (and in any event is usually impractical)

for the owner of the chair to remove and reposition the projecting pegs and/or the channel elements so as to adjust the seat depth. Accordingly, chairs are provided in a number of different seat depths and when a chair is to be provided it is necessary to select one with the seat depth required.

A suitable range of seat depths which might be used is 40. 64, 45.72, 50.80 and 55.88 cm (16,18, 20 and 22 inches respectively). Catering for different seat depths (in addition to other dimensional variations and fabric, colours, patterns, etc. ) presents the manufacturers with the difficulty of ensuring that the correct quantity of each sized chair is manufactured: therefore most manufacturers make substantially to order, leading to higher costs and delay in availability.

In addition, as above indicated, a major user of these types of chairs are local authority social services departments who retain ownership of each chair whilst it is being used by one of its clients. Should the chair no longer be required by a client it is usually desired to use it for another client, but that will only be possible if the chair in question is a size suitable for the new client. If the new client requires a chair with a different seat depth a different chair will have to be supplied (and perhaps purchased), and the existing chair placed into storage.

Alternatively, it may not be possible to allocate a chair to the new client because of financial/budgetary reasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an objective of the present invention to seek to avoid or reduce the above-stated problems with present chairs. In particular, it is an objective to provide a recliner chair in which the seat depth (and perhaps also other dimensions) is adjustable.

Accordingly, there is provided a recliner chair having a removable seat back, in which the seat back is connected to the seat base by means of a projecting peg and a cooperating channel element at each side of the chair, the chair having at least two projecting pegs, or at least two channel elements, at each side of the chair.

The provision of at least two projecting pegs, or at least two channel elements, at each side of the chair allows the stockist or owner of the chair or their professional advisor to select which of the projecting pegs and/or channel elements are to be used to connect the seat back to the seat base, permitting adjustment in the position of the seat back relative to the seat base. It will be understood that adjustment of the position of the seat back relative to the seat base adjusts the seat depth of the chair.

Preferably, there are two projecting pegs and two channel elements to each side of the chair. Such an arrangement allows three or four relative positions between the seat back and seat base, and therefore three or four different seat depths. Alternatively, two relative positions can be provided by having one projecting peg (and two channel elements), or one channel element (and two projecting pegs) to each side of the chair. More relative positions can be provided by increasing the number of projecting pegs and/or channel elements, but four relative positions is believed to be generally sufficient.

Preferably also, the spacing between the projecting pegs differs from that of the channel elements. This provides four relative positions. Alternatively, if the spacing between the projecting pegs matches the spacing between the channel elements three relative positions are provided (in the intermediate or central position each of the two projecting pegs engages a respective channel element).

Desirably, the spacing between the channel elements is half (or alternatively double) the spacing between the projecting pegs. This provides four equally-spaced positions. In an ideal embodiment, the spacing between the projecting pegs is around 10.16 cm (4 inches) and the spacing between the channel elements is substantially half of this, i. e. around 5.08 cm (2 inches), allowing four substantially equally spaced positions in increments of around 5.08 cm (2 inches), giving a total range of adjustment of around 15.24 cm (6 inches). It would clearly be possible if desired to have smaller increments and a smaller overall range (with embodiments having four positions), but increments of around 5.08 cm, (2 inches) are believed to be appropriate, experience showing that the relative softness and adaptability of the cushioning typically fitted to such chairs makes smaller increments seldom if ever necessary.

In addition, a total adjustment range of around 15.24 cm (6 inches) is expected to accommodate the vast majority of users so that a greater adjustment range, and more than four adjustment positions, are believed to be unnecessary for the vast majority of applications.

Desirably, the projecting pegs and/or the channel sections are arranged at different heights. In such embodiments, adjustment of the seat depth will be accompanied by adjustment of the height of the seat back also. Desirably, it is arranged that an increase in the seat depth is accompanied by an increase in the height of the seat back, it being typical that a user with longer legs also has a longer back.

The invention also provides a component comprising two projecting pegs for use in a chair according to the invention, the component having a mounting means with apertures enabling it to be mounted upon the chair.

Alternatively or additionally, the invention also provides a component comprising two channel elements for use in a chair according to the invention, the component having a mounting

means with apertures enabling it to be mounted upon the chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of part of a recliner chair according to the invention, with the seat depth adjusted to its maximum value; Fig. 2 shows the chair of Fig. 1 with the seat depth adjusted to its minimum value; Fig. 3 shows a removable seat cushion suitable for use with the chair of Figs. 1 and 2 ; Fig. 4 shows one set of projecting pegs of the chair of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 shows one set of channel elements of the chair of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the chair with a projecting peg engaging a channel element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS In common with prior art recliner chairs the chair 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a seat base 12 and a seat back 14. In this embodiment the seat base carries a movable leg rest 16. The chair is upholtered, and the seat base contains a chamber which is hidden by the upholstered sides 20 and back 22 of the seat base. The mechanism controlling

the reclining movements (and also the riser movements and leg-raising movements if provided) lies within the chamber, substantially hidden from view. The chair will typically include feet to raise the seat base off the floor and to enable it to slide, but since the feet play no part in the present invention they are not shown in the drawings. In addition, the seat base will typically carry upholstered arms, but these are not shown in the drawings since they would obscure part of the seat base and seat back.

The seat base 12 includes a wooden frame, and the seat back 14 includes a wooden frame, which wooden frames provide structural rigidity to the respective parts of the chair, and enable the various parts and components of the chair to be connected together. In particular, the seat back 14 is mounted between the wooden frame parts 44 (Fig. 4) forming the sides 20 of the chair, and as shown in Fig. 2 a part of the seat back 14 can lie between those frame parts.

The chair 10 is a two-way recliner chair, i. e. the angle a between the seat base 12 and the seat back 14 is fixed and does not alter as the chair is reclined. When the chair is reclined, both the seat base and the seat back move through the same angle about a pivot point (not shown), the location of the pivot point depending upon the particular recliner mechanism utilised (in some mechanisms the pivot point moves during pivoting movement).

According to the invention, the position of the seat back 14 can be adjusted relative to the seat base, to alter the seat depth between a maximum depth D1 shown in Fig. 1 to a minimum depth D2 shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment the seat depth D1 is 55.88 cm (22 inches) and the seat depth D2 is 40.64 cm (16 inches), and there are two adjustment positions between the seat depths D1 and D2, specifically at 50.80 cm (20 inches) and 45.72 cm (18 inches), so that there are four adjustment positions in total.

It will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 that in this embodiment the seat back is mounted to the chair in such a position that some of the seat cushion 24 must be removed to allow the seat depth to be adjusted to its minimum position D2. In this embodiment the seat cushion 24 is removable, and the foam within the cushion includes a removable element 26. Removal of the foam element 26 enables the depth of the seat cushion to be reduced to accommodate the minimum seat depth D2.

It will be appreciated that removable seat cushions 24 are known, primarily for the purpose of allowing the cushion to be laundered if it should become soiled. In common with prior art removable seat cushions, the seat cushion 24 includes a washable cover 30 which can be opened (by a zip fastener-not shown) allowing the separation of the cover 30 from the foam 32. In this embodiment of the invention the openable cover is utilised to add or remove the foam element 26.

The removed foam element 26 may be stored within the seat back, i. e. the seat back 14 will typically be hollow and accessible from behind the chair, allowing insertion of the removed foam element to ensure that this remains with the seat and does not become inadvertently discarded or lost whilst it is not required.

The removable seat cushion 24 also includes the cushion part 34 for the leg rest 16, again in common with prior art arrangements having removable foam and cover.

The removable seat cover 24 is secured to the seat base by way of hook and loop fasteners such as"Velcro" (R. T. M.) located upon the cover 30 or upon the base fabric (not shown) used to cover the seat base 12.

In the embodiment shown the foam element 26 has a depth d of approximately 15.24 cm (6 inches). Only a single foam

element is provided in this embodiment, and this foam element is required to accommodate all four possible adjustment positions. Thus, when the seat depth is adjusted to Di the foam element is included within the seat cushion 24 and when the seat depth is adjusted to D the foam element is removed. When the seat depth is adjusted to the larger intermediate seat depth of 50.80 cm (20 inches) the foam element 26 can be retained, but will necessarily be slightly compressed by the cushion of the seat back.

However, such compression will be readily accommodated by the cushions of the seat base and the seat back. When the seat depth is adjusted to the smaller intermediate seat depth of 45.72 cm (18 inches) the foam element can still be retained, requiring further compression of the cushions, or more suitably it can be removed, resulting in a small gap (of around 5 cm (2 inches) ) between the seat cushion and the bottom of the seat back. Such a small gap is likely to be accommodated by the cushioning in the back and the seat and is unlikely to be noticed by the user, and little or none of the user's weight will be required to be borne by that area.

Alternatively, three foam elements, each having a depth of around 5 cm (2 inches) (or two foam elements, having respective depths of around 5cm and 10 cm (2 and 4 inches)) can be located within the seat cushion 24, to provide accurate adjustment of the seat cushion to match the adjusted seat depths. However, that level of cushion adjustment is only expected to be required seldom, if ever.

In embodiments which do not have a removable seat cushion, a removable foam element can be provided at the rear of the seat cushion, and can be made accessible from the back of the chair by a suitable opening in the upholstery (it being understood that access to the rear of the cushion will readily be available when the seat back is not present). In yet other embodiments it can be arranged that the seat back lies fully above the seat cushion, so that adjustment of the

position of the seat back requires no modification of the seat cushion.

Fig. 4 shows the projecting pegs 40a and 40b of the chair, which pegs are carried by a common mounting plate 42. One mounting plate 42 is secured to each of the wooden frame parts 44, which frame parts form part of the respective sides 20 of the seat base 12, with the pegs projecting above the sides 20 and consequently projecting above the remainder of the seat base 12. The pegs are directed at an angle 8 to the horizontal, and in common with prior art designs the angle 8 is around 650.

The mounting plate 42 contains a number of apertures 46, each of which can receive a screw or bolt by means of which the mounting plate can be secured to the frame part 44. It is desired to provide a large number of apertures spaced around the mounting plate so as to provide a large variation in the available mounting position for the mounting plate 42. Thus, the wooden frames of the chairs manufactured by different manufacturers vary somewhat in size and position, and if the mounting plate 42 is to be able to be fitted to all (or at least a large number of) those chairs some variation in the fitment position may be desired. In addition, it is likely that only two screws or bolts will be required to secure the mounting plate to the frame part 42, but in this embodiment four apertures 46 are provided, enabling the fitter to choose the most suitable two apertures to utilise.

In the embodiment shown the top edge 48 of the mounting plate 42 projects above the top edge 50 of the frame part 44, since with the particular design of chair 10 this is required to position the projecting pegs 40a, b as desired.

Clearly, in other embdiments the top edge 48 of the mounting plate could lie below (or further above) the top edge of the frame part, and in yet other embodiments the back edge 52 of

the mounting plate could lie along or behind the back edge 54 of the frame part, as desired.

In the two-way recliner chair shown the mounting plate 42 is secured to the frame part 44 of the seat base 12. If the invention is to be utilised in a three-way recliner chair, the mounting plate 42 could instead be secured to levers controlling the position of the seat back, which levers would allow the mounting plate, and thus the seat back, to pivot relative to the seat base. The mounting plate could in such embodiments have the required number of apertures (or other suitable means) to secure it to the levers.

Fig. 5 shows the channel elements 60a and 60b of the chair, which channel elements are carried by a common mounting plate 62. One mounting plate 62 is secured to each of the wooden frame parts 64, which frame parts are located at respective sides of the seat back 14. The channel elements are directed at an angle 8 to the horizontal, i. e. the same angle as the projecting pegs 40a, b. The mounting plate 62 is mounted at an angle a to the frame part 64, to provide

the angle ex. between the seat base 12 and the seat back 14. Clearly, in other embodiments the angle 8 can be other than 650, as desired.

As with the mounting plate 42, the mounting plate 62 contains a large number of apertures 66 to receive screws or the like by which the mounting plate 62 may be secured to the frame part 64. There are more apertures than are necessary for that securement, and they are spaced around the mounting plate 62, to provide a large range of mounting positions. In the embodiment shown the front edge 70 of the mounting plate 62 projects beyond the front edge 72 of the frame part 64 in order to position the channel elements 60a, b as desired.

As shown in Fig. 6, each channel element 60a, b includes curved sides 74 which can surround parts of the fitted projecting peg 40a, b, so as to retain the peg therein. Also, in common with some prior art designs, both of the projecting pegs 40a, b and the channel elements 60a, b are tapered, to facilitate ease of assembly. In alternative embodiments, the pegs and channel elements can be parallelsided, and such arrangements are understood to be less liable to jamming.

To assemble the seat back 14 to the seat base 12, the particular channel element 60a, b which is to be located upon a particular projecting peg 40a, b is determined by the seat depth required, and the seat back is positioned with the larger (lower) end 78 of the chosen channel element above the free (top) end 76 of the chosen projecting peg. The seat back 14 is then lowered so that the channel element embraces the projecting peg.

As shown in Fig. 4, each projecting peg 40a, b carries a boss 80 which can be engaged by a spring clip (not shown, but ideally substantially of known design) which is carried by the channel element 60a, b, so as to prevent inadvertent separation of the channel element from the projecting peg.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view (from above) of part of an assembled chair, with the projecting peg 40a located within the channel element 60a. The chair has therefore been assembed with the shorter intermediate seat depth, specifically 45.72 cm (18 inches). It will be understood that if the projecting peg 40a is located within channel element 60b the seat depth will be the minimum, D2. If the projecting peg 40b is located within the channel element 60a the seat depth will be the maximum, D, and if the projecting peg 40b is located within channel element 60b the seat depth will be the longer intemediate seat depth 50.80 cm (20 inches).

As also shown in Fig. 6, there is a certain spacing s between the centres of the channel elements. The spacing between the centres of the projecting arms is arranged to be 2s. This arrangement provides that the spacing between adjacent adjustment positions are equal, i. e. all of the adjustment positions are separated by a spacing s, and the overall adjustment range is 3s.

It may be that when the seat depth is adjusted to its maximum, D1, the projecting peg 40a is visible in front of the seat back 14. This may be undesirable, and if so a sleeve can be provided (suitably of the upholstery material) to hide the projecting peg 40a, and also to reduce the likelihood of injury to the user. Also, to reduce the likelihood of injury, all of the exposed parts of the components providing the projecting pegs and the channel elements are rounded. It can of course be arranged that protective elements be provided to cover any exposed parts of these components, or it can be arranged that the ends or edges of the upholstery material are kept free and available for folding over any exposed parts of these components in use.

In the embodiments shown the adjustment of the seat depth is the only adjustment of the seat back 14. However, since it is recognised that a taller user will require a larger seat depth, provision may be made to increase the height of the seat back at the same time as increasing the seat depth.

This can be achieved by"stepping"the projecting pegs and/or the channel elements, i. e. arranging for each of the projecting pegs and/or each of the channel elements, to be at different heights. Such stepping may be achieved by making the projecting peg 40b longer than the projecting peg 40a, or by raising the projecting peg 40b above the height of the projecting peg 40a. Alternatively (or additionally) this can be achieved by raising the channel element 60b above the channel element 60a. If both the projecting pegs and the channel elements are stepped the seat back will rise

with each increase of the seat depth, the seat back having four height positions; if only one of the projecting pegs and channel elements are stepped the seat back will be adjustable between two height positions. It may also be desirable to adjust the size and/or position of the leg-rest if fitted, and also the overall height of the chair, but such adjustments are believed to be within the ambit of the man skilled in this art, and do not form part of the present invention.

The rear ends of the arms of recliner chairs are typically curved to accommodate pivoting movement of the seat back (the seat back usually being extended to overlie the rear ends of the arms). Whilst it is desired to minimise the gap between the arms and the seat back during this pivoting movement, it will be recognised that the arms must be able to accommodate the pivoting movement when the seat depth is minimised, and that there may consequently be a small gap between the seat back and the arms when the seat depth is maximised (which gap will be increased in embodiments in which the seat back is raised when the seat depth is increased). Nevertheless, this gap is expected to be acceptable to users in view of the considerable benefits offered by the invention.

In the embodiments described the two projecting pegs are mounted upon a common mounting plate and the two channel elements are mounted upon a common mounting plate. This has considerable advantages in ensuring that the spacing between these parts is maintained as desired. However, it would of course be possible to provide two discrete projecting pegs, and two discrete channel elements, the projecting pegs and/or channel elements perhaps comprising existing components which are presently used singly on recliner chairs. In terms of manufacturing cost (and in particular tooling cost), it may for example be desirable to utilise two separate channel elements rather than mount these upon a common mounting plate, though this might be at the expense

of flexibility in the possible mounting positions for the channel elements.

The embodiments shown and described have the projecting pegs affixed to the seat base and the channel elements affixed to the seat back; instead, the projecting pegs could be affixed to the seat back and the channel elements affixed to the seat base if desired, without affecting the utility of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A recliner chair having a removable seat back, in which the seat back is connected to the seat base by means of a projecting peg and a cooperating channel element at each side of the chair, the chair having at least two projecting pegs, or at least two channel elements, at each side of the chair.
2. A recliner chair according to claim 1 in which there are two projecting pegs and two channel elements at each side of the chair.
3. A recliner chair according to claim 2 in which the spacing between the projecting pegs differs from the spacing between the channel elements.
4. A recliner chair according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the spacing between the channel elements is half the spacing between the projecting pegs.
5. A recliner chair according to any one of claims 1-4 in which the projecting pegs and/or the channel sections are arranged at different relative heights.
6. A recliner chair according to claim 5 in which it is arranged that an increase in the seat depth is accompanied by an increase in the height of the seat back.
7. A recliner chair according to any one of claims 1-6 in which the projecting peg (s) are mounted upon the seat base and the channel element (s) are mounted upon the seat back.
8. A recliner chair according to any one of claims 1-7 in which the depth of the seat cushion is adjustable.

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9. A recliner chair according to claim 8 in which the cushion contains at least one removable cushion element.
10. A component comprising two projecting pegs for use in a chair according to any one of claims 1-9, the component having a mounting means with apertures enabling it to be mounted upon the chair.
11. A component comprising two channel elements for use in a chair according to any one of claims 1-9, the component having a mounting means with apertures enabling it to be mounted upon the chair.
12. A recliner chair constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to Figs. 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.