NO20221354A1

NO20221354A1 - Recliner chair

Info

Publication number: NO20221354A1
Application number: NO20221354A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Jahn Aamodt
Original assignee: Jaam As
Priority date: 2021-11-11
Filing date: 2022-12-16
Publication date: 2023-05-12
Also published as: NO347655B1; WO2023085945A1; NO20211361A1; NO20221349A1

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates reclining chair.

Background

[0002] There are several variants of adjusting the seating position of reclining chairs. That is, adjusting the way the seat and the back move relative to one another and relative to the base. Traditional reclining chairs with movable backs suffer from several disadvantages.

[0003] In typical reclining chairs and sofas, when the back is reclined, the seat lifts upwards and is slide forwards, resulting in an unfavorable sitting position and reduces the available space in front of the chair. Document NO 328012 B1 discloses a reclining chair comprising a back-support part 3, a seat 4, a support frame 5 which can rotate around a stationary vertical axis. The support base 5 comprises an actuator fixed to the support base in at least one end and connected to the front end of the seat part. The back-support part comprises two articulated joints 13, 14 rotatably connecting the back-support part to the support base 5. The seat part 5 is rotatably connected to the back support in the back end and rotatably connected to the actuator in the front end. The solution from NO 328012 B1 has the drawbacks that the seat will be lifted and moved forward when the back is reclined.

[0004] Other variants have a stationary seat while the back rotates in relation to the seat. The leads to an uncomfortable reclined position for the back supports moves away from the seat and the lower back loses its support.

[0005] Some recliner chairs are also equipped with a separate headrest. However, there has been a disadvantage that the angle of the headrest relative to the back does not change in relation to the position of the back rest, that is, the angle between the headrest and the chair back stays the same.

[0006] Further variants, such as typical office chairs and the like, may have a reclining seat and back rest, wherein the angle between the seat and back rest is fixed, while the seat will change its inclination relative to the horizontal plane.

[0007] Document EP3212037B1 discloses a seating furniture wherein the seat, base and back rest are jointly coupled to allow for synchronous movement of the seat and backrest in relation to the horizontal plane, when the backrest is reclined. The chair comprising a back-support part 11, a seat part 1, a support base 7 which can rotate around a stationary vertical axis. The support base 7 comprises an actuator 2 rotatably connected to the support base 7 through rotatable connection 5 in one end and rotatably connected 12 to the back-support part 11, the back-support part 11 is rotatably connected to the seat part 1 through a rotatable connection 14 and to the actuator 2 through a rotatable connection and to the support frame 7 through rotatable link arms 8, 10, 13. The actuator 2 is not supported from rotation nor fixed the base, but rotatably attached to both the base 7 and the back-support part 11. The back-support comprises a two-point connection to the base and the actuator, resulting in large stress in the material between the attachment points 10, 12.

Furthermore, the complex arrangement with link arms 8, 10, 13 under stress makes the arrangement subjectable to unwanted movement and play between the moving parts.

[0008] Document WO 00/01279 A1 discloses a reclining chair or comprising a backsupport part 4, a seat part 3, a support base 2 which can rotate around a stationary vertical axis. The support base 2 comprises an actuator rotatably connected to the support base 2 in one end, and in another end fixed to the back-support part 4, wherein the actuator is further rotationally linked to the seat part 3 via cross braces 7.

[0009] None of the prior art documents provides a solution wherein the movement and position of a headrest is connected with movement and position of the seat nor does any of the prior art provide a solution wherein the back rest for the lower back rises, in relation to the seat, to support the lower back of a user, when the user reclines the back part.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a recliner, which provides lower back is support when the body changes from a normal sitting position into a resting position.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a recliner chair in which the lower back support moves in relation to the back side of the seat, when the back is reclined, to follow the anatomical change in a body sitting in the chair.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a recliner chair in which the seat does not move in translational direction.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a recliner chair, in which the inclination of the seat adapts with the inclination of the back.

[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a recliner chair, in which the headrest inclines forwards when the back reclines and seat tilts.

[0015] It is further an aim of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the disclosed prior art and to provide an alternative to the prior art.

Summary of the invention

[0016] The invention is set forth and characterized in the main claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a reclining chair arrangement wherein the chair is seen from the side.

Figure 2a and 2b shows a chair arrangement in two different positioned, reclined and upright.

Detailed description of the invention

[0017] The following description will use terms such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “lateral”, “back and forth”, “up and down”, ”upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “forward”, “rear”, etc. These terms generally refer to the views and orientations as shown in the drawings and that are associated with a normal use of the invention wherein a user sits in the chair. The terms are used for the reader’s convenience only and shall not be limiting. Like numerals on different drawings describe the same feature.

[0018] All figures illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein the internal parts and arrangements are shown. In normal use these, several of these features would normally be covered with cushioning and the like. Several chair arrangements may also be arranged adjacent together to make further seating arranges such as reclinable couches, sofas and the like. Furthermore, the illustrations may illustrate a seating furniture form the side in the 2D environment, and it should be understood that multiples of the same members could exist to constitute the furniture in a 3D environment.

[0019] Figure 1 shows a seating furniture 1 in the form of a recliner hereinafter simply referred to as "chair" comprising a back-support part 6, a seat part 5 and a support frame 4 connected to a base 2. The support frame 4 and the base 2 is connected through a mount 3 comprising respective coupling portions, wherein the respective coupling portions may be rotatable in order for the support frame 4 to rotate in relation to the base 2. The support frame 4 being arranged to support the backsupport part 6 and the seat part 5. The illustrated chair is shown without any cushioning and illustrates what is to be understood as internal mechanisms supporting and arrangements. The back support part 6 is arranged to support the back and upper body of a user during normal use and the set part is arranged to support the lower body and legs of a user during normal use. The seat part 5 comprises seat frame 7 with a front-end FE and a back-end BE, wherein the front-end FE is the area generally supporting the knees of a user using the furniture in a normal fashion.

[0020] The back-support part 6 comprises a lower back support frame 19 and an upper head frame 20, that may be both pivotably linked or fixedly fastened together to constitute one frame. The arrangement further comprises a seat part 5, and a support frame 4, the support frame 4 being connected to a base 2, the support frame 4 being arranged to support the back-support part 6 and the seat part 5. The seat part 5 comprises seat frame 7 with a front-end FE and a back end BE, and wherein the seat frame 7 is pivotably connected to the support frame 4 between the front end FE and a back end BE through at least a rotatable first connection joint 8 wherein the seat part is pivotable around a stationary and horizontal axis A running through the first connection joint 8. The support frame 4 comprises an actuator 11 comprising a first and second end, wherein the actuator is fixed to the support frame 4 in a nonrotatable manner at a connection portion 14, and in the second end retractable and extendable on a fixed path FP in relation to the first end and arranged for translational movement of the second end on the fixed path FP to and from the connection portion 14 of the actuator 11. The back support part 6, 19, 20 is rotably connected to the seat part 5, 7 through at least one second connection joint 26, wherein the back support part 6 comprises a lower end LE and an upper end UE. Wherein the second end of the actuator 11 is rotably connected to the back support part 6 through a third connection joint 27 or to an second connection part 17 fixed to, and protruding a distance from, the lower end LE of the back support part 6 towards the seat part 4. The at least one first connection part 16 is fixed to, and protruding a distance from, the back end BE of the seat part 5 and the least a second connection part 17 fixed to, and protruding a distance from, the lower end LE of the back support part 6 at an angle in relation to the back support part 6, wherein the first connection part 16 and second connection part 17 are rotatably linked through the second connection joint 26. In figure 7 the first connection part 16 is fixed to and protrudes from the back-end end of the seat frame 7, and the second connection part 16 is fixed to and protrudes from the back support frame 19, thereby pivotably linking the seat frame 7 and the back support frame 19 and thus the seat part 5 and the back support 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end of the actuator is rotably connected to the second connection part 17 by the third connection joint 27. The third connection joint is located between a first end and a second end of second connection part 17, wherein the first end of second connection part 17, is fixed to the back frame 19 and the second end is pivotably linked to the first connection part 16 through the rotatable second connection joint 26.

[0021] In the chair arrangement illustrated in figure 1, the back end BE of the seat frame 7 is lowered in relation to the first connection joint 8, and the front end FE of the seat frame 7 is elevated in relation to the first connection joint 8, when the backsupport 6 part rotates around the second connection joint 26 and the back-support part 6 reclines. Furthermore, the back end BE of the seat frame 7 is elevated in relation to the first connection joint 8 and the front end FE of the seat frame 7 lowered in relation to the first connection joint 8, when the back-support part 6 rotates around the second connection joint 26 and the back-support part 6 is inclined. The stationary first connection joint 8, and the movable second and third connection joints 26, 27 transfers translational movement of the second end of the actuator to rotational movement of the back part 6 and the seat part 5.

[0022] Figure 2a and 2b illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the second end of the actuator 11 is attached to the second connection part 17 through the third connection joint 27. In figure 8a the chair arrangement is in an upright position and in figure 8b the arrangement is in a reclined position. In figure 8a the angle α between the back frame 19 and the horizontal line C-C is grater than the angle α in figure 8b, and the angle β between the seat frame 7 and the horizontal line C-C is smaller in the upright position in figure 8a than in the reclined position in in figure 8b. When the arrangement is moved from reclined to upright or from upright to reclined, the second end of the actuator will move in a straight line in relation to the longitudinal direction of the actuator. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator is situated in a vertical longitudinal oriented position and attached to an backwards extending portion of the support frame 4.

[0023] The second connection part 17, the first connection joint 8, the second connection joint 26 and the seat frame 7 are arranged to translate rotational motion around the first connection joint 8 into straight line linear motion at the second end of the actuator 11 thereby moving third connection joint 27 and the second end of the actuator 11 in a straight linear motion along the path of a linear fixed path FP. This is achieved with one fixed pivot and two moving pivots, to translate rotary motion into linear motion, similar to how the motion of a slider crank device are an arrangement of mechanical parts designed to convert straight-line motion to rotary motion, or rotary motion into straight-line motion.

[0024] With the seat frame 5 pivots around the fixed pivot point of the first connection joint 8, and the second connection part 17 rotating around the moving second connection joint 26 and the connection point between the second end of the actuator 11 and the second connection joint 26, pivoting around the third connection joint 27, the invention is arranged for translating the linear movement of the actuator, into pivotal movement of the seat frame 7 and to translate rotational movement of the seat frame 4 into in line linear movement of the second end of the actuator 11. It should be understood that a force could be applied in between the seat frame and actuator, such as to the seat part 6, to induce movement into the system. A fixed pivot point should be understood such that the pivot point remains stationary at its axis, while a movable pivot should be understood as a pivot point that changes in the plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. For instance, the connection joint 8 will have a stationary height from a floor, regardless of the angle of the seat part 5 in relation to a horizontal plane, and the angle of the back part 6 in relation to a horizontal plane, thus the first connection joint 8 is stationary. While the height of second connection joint 26 from the floor 29 will depend on the position of the seat part 5, since the joint is connected to a displaceable end of the seat part 5, such that the moving path of the second connection joint 26 in the vertical plane corresponds to a path along the circumference of the second connection joint 26 rotating around first connection joint 8. Therefore, the location of the second connection joint 26 in the verticals plane depends on the angle of the seat frame 7. The connection joint between the second end of the actuator 11 and the second connection part 17 is also a movable pivot point, as the location of the third connection joint 27 depends on the angle of the seat part 5 in relation to a horizontal plane. However, the location of the third connection joint 27 only translates on a straight line along FP. Thereby, the point of action of the actuator 11 is located in line with the line FP and.

[0025] The actuator 11 might be any type of actuator, gas spring, spring device, or electronic motor such as a linear motor, capable of exerting a force and/or a restoring force. The actuator 11 might also be lockable, such that the actuator 11 and the chair arrangement is lockable in any position, both in an upright position and in a reclined position and in any intermediate positioned between fully reclined and fully upright. The actuator 11 comprises at least an extended state, and a compressed state, and any state between fully compressed and fully extended. The actuator 11 is arranged for controlling the movement between the back part 6 and the seat part 5 and the support frame 4. In an embodiment of the invention, the actuator 11 exerts a force that extends the actuator 11, and in order to compress the actuator 11, an opposite and equal, or larger, force must be applied. This force is applied from the back part 6, 19, 20 which is rotated around the second connection joint 26 and the third connection joint 27. When a user sits in the chair in the upright position and forces the back part 6 back, the forces are translated through the actuator connection and the second connection part 17 and is absorbed by the actuator 11 as it compresses.

[0026] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents and that the scope of the invention is to be determined from the following claims.

Claims

1. A reclining chair arrangement (1) comprising a back-support part (6), a seat part (5) and a support frame (4) connected to a base (2), the support frame (4) being arranged to support the back-support part (6) and the seat part (5);

- the seat part (5) comprises seat frame (7) and an at least a first connection part (16), wherein the seat frame comprises a front end (FE) and a back end (BE), and wherein the seat frame (7) is connected to the support frame (4) between the front end (FE) and a back end (BE) through at least a rotatable first connection joint (8), wherein the seat part is pivotable around a stationary and horizontal axis running through the first connection joint (8), and wherein the first connection part (16) is fixed to and protruding from the seat frame (7) at an angle in relation to the seat frame (7),

-the support frame (4) comprises an actuator (11), the actuator comprises a first and second end, wherein the actuator is fixed to the support frame (4) at a connection portion (14) and in the second end retractable and extendable on a linear fixed path (FP) in relation to the first end,

- the back support part (6) comprising a back support frame (19, 20) and at least a second connection part (17) fixed to, and protruding a distance from the lower part (LE) of the back support frame (19) an angle in relation to the back support frame (19, 20), wherein the first connection part (16) and the second connection part (17) are rotably connected through at least one second connection joint (26),

wherein the second end of the actuator is rotably connected, through the third connection joint (27), to the lower end LE of back support frame (19).

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the back end (BE) of the seat part (5) is arranged to be lowered in relation to the first connection joint (8), and the front end (FE) of the seat part is adapted to be elevated in relation to the first connection joint (8), whereupon the back-support part rotates around the second connection joint (26) to recline the back-support part,

and wherein the back end (BE) of the seat part (5) is further arranged to be elevated in relation to the first connection joint (8), and the front end (FE) of the seat part is adapted to be lowered in relation to the first connection joint (8), whereupon the back-support part rotates around the second connection joint (26) to incline the back-support part (6).

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the actuator is rotably connected, through the third connection joint (27), to the second connection part (17).

4. The arrangement accordance to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame (4) is rotatably connected to the base (2) via a base mount (3) comprising respective coupling portions, wherein the support frame (4) is arranged to rotate around a stationary vertical axis.

5. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the back support part (6) further comprises a head support frame (20), wherein the head support frame (20) is rotatably connected to the back support frame (19) via head support connection joint (21).

6. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (7) of the seat part (5) comprises at least a first set of substantially parallel seat members (9) connected to a further set of substantially parallel seat members (10, 10) at an right angle, wherein the at least one rotatable connection joint (8) connecting the seat part (5) to the support frame (4) is located in at least on or in at least one of the parallel seat members (9).

7. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is lockable and releasable operated by a control handle, wherein the actuator is arranged for controlling the movement of the seat part (5) in relation to a horizontal plane and the movement of the seat part (5) in relation to the back support part (6).