US20080136245A1

US20080136245A1 - Chair with removable leg support

Info

Publication number: US20080136245A1
Application number: US11/636,574
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin P. Reese
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-11
Filing date: 2006-12-11
Publication date: 2008-06-12

Abstract

A chair includes a body portion and a leg support portion coupled to the body portion by a removable and adjustable joint that includes first and second halves respectively attached to the leg support portion and the body portion in a removable manner. The first half is rotatable with respect to the second half between first and second positions whereby the leg support portion is movable with respect to the body portion between a regular position and a special support position. Thus, the leg support portion may assume stable physical engagement with an irregular fixture surface and can also be raised for supporting legs of a sitter on a raised position. Further, in case the chair body is adjustable, which changes the relative position between the leg support portion and the chair body portion, the adjustability of the joint allows the leg support portion to regain stable engagement with the fixture surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chair, and in particular to an adjustable lounge having a removable leg support.
2. The Related Art
A chair, such as a lounge, provides a sitter with a place of comfortable rest. However, the most comfortable posture that the sitter may take on the chair varies, depending on a variety of factors, including at least physical condition. There are conditions when people wish to take a regular sitting posture for having a semi-formal conversation with other people and also conditions when people wish to partially lie down to relax their soar legs. An adjustable chair or adjustable lounge provides a person adjustability with respect to their posture on the chair by selectively modifying for example the included angle between a seat cushion and a backrest. Yet, a lounge that provides an extended portion to support the legs gives a person trouble to take a regular sitting posture. On the other hand, a chair that allows for regular sitting posture does not have the extended portion for supporting the legs of the sitter.
Thus the present invention is aimed to provide a chair having a removable extended portion for supporting the legs of a sitter in order to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional chairs and lounges, thus also providing a convertible chair which can be a lounge or a chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a chair having a removable leg support, which is removably coupled to the chair as a selective extended portion of the chair for supporting the legs of a sitter.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable chair having a removable leg support wherein the leg support is adjustable with the adjustability of the chair backrest to comfort a sitter on the chair with different postures.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable lounge backrest having a leg support portion that is adjustable with respect to a lounge body whereby the lounge can extremely comfortable.
In accordance with the present invention, to realize the above objectives, a chair comprises a body portion and a leg support portion coupled to the body portion by a removable and adjustable joint that comprises first and second halves respectively attached to the leg support portion and the body portion in a removable manner. The first half is rotatable with respect to the second half between first and second positions whereby the leg support portion is movable with respect to the body portion between a regular position and a special back support position. Thus, the leg support portion may assume stable physical engagement with a surface and can also be raised for supporting legs of a sitter in the upright position. Further, in case the chair body is adjustable, which changes the relative position between the leg support portion and the chair body portion, the adjustability of the joint allows the leg support portion to regain stable engagement with the surface.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair having a removable leg support constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but with the removable leg support detached from the chair;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a joint that releasably connects the removable leg support to the chair;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the joint connecting the leg support to the chair in a substantially straight manner;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the joint connecting the leg support to the chair in an angled manner;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the chair positioned on a flat fixture surface with the leg support in a regular position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar t FIG. 6 but showing the leg support in a raised position; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the chair with backrest reclined.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, a chair constructed in accordance with the present invention, generally designated with reference numeral 10, comprises a chair body portion 12 and a leg support portion 14 releasably coupled to the chair body portion 12 by joints 16. The chair body portion 12 comprises a frame comprised of a seat portion 18 and seatback 20. The seat portion 18 is comprised of two sub-frames spaced from each other. Each sub-frame comprises a front bar 22 and a rear bar 24 pivoted, at reference numeral 25, to each other in a cross form whereby the front bar 22 and the rear bar 24 are rotatable with respect to each other. Front ends 26 of the front bars 22 are expanded, preferably spherical, for smooth and stable engagement with a fixture surface G (see FIGS. 6-8). Similarly, rear ends 28 of the rear bars 24 are expanded, preferably in spherical shape also. Cross bars 30 extend and connect between the front bars 22 and the rear bars 24.
Each front bar 22 comprises an extension bar 32 telescopically fit over a rear end (not labeled) of the front bar 22 whereby the extension bar 32 is slidable along the front bar 22. A releasably locking member 34 is provided between the front bar 22 and the extension bar 32 to selectively secure the extension bar 32 along the front bar 22.
The seatback 20 comprises a seatback frame (not labeled) comprised of two spaced tubular side bars 36 respectively associated with and coupled to the sub-frames of the chair body portion 12. Each side bar 36 has a lower end pivoted at reference numeral 37 to each rear bar 24 and an upper end defining an axially extending passage (not labeled) into which a limb (not labeled) of a U-shaped connection 38 is fit. If desired, a cross bar 40 extends between the side bars 36 at a position distant from the connection 38.
The side bars 36 are also pivoted at reference numeral 41 to the extension bars 32 of the front bars 22. Thus, by means of the pivotal connections 25, 37, 41 among the front bar 22, the rear bar 24, and the side bar 36, and the slidable coupling between the extension bar 32 and the front bar 22, the seatback 20 is adjustable with respect to the seat portion 18 by changing an including angle therebetween.
Front ends of the rear bars 24 form coupling means for connecting the joints 16. The front ends of the rear bars 24 change orientations with the adjustment of the seatback 20 with respect to the seat portion 18 or the change of the included angle between the seatback 20 and the seat portion 18. Such a change can be compensated by the joints 16 to ensure stable engagement of the leg support portion 14 with the fixture surface G. This can get apparent from the following discussion.
Flexible members (not shown), such as canvas, can be mounted between the side bars as a back support member and between the rear bars 24 as a seat support member. This is known in the art and no further detail is needed.
The leg support portion 14 comprises two lateral bars 42 each having a front end 44 expanded for smooth and stable engagement with the fixture surface G and a rear end coupled to a front end of each rear bar 24 by the joint 16. The lateral bar 42 of the leg support portion 14 and the rear bar 24 of the seat portion 18 that are connected by the joint 16 are made arcuate whereby the rear end 28 of the rear bar 24 and the front end 44 of the lateral bar 42 are simultaneously positionable on the fixture surface G as shown in FIG. 6.
Also referring to FIGS. 3-5, the joint 16 comprises first and second halves 46, 48, each comprising an elongate body having a tubular outer end having a cross-section sufficient to fit into the rear end of the lateral bar 42 and the front end of the rear bar 24. A leaf spring 90 is received in the outer end and has a projection 92 extending through a hole 94 defined in a wall of the outer end to engage a corresponding hole 96 defined in a wall of the rear end of the lateral bar 42 or a wall of the front end of the rear bar 24 under the action of the biasing force of the leaf spring 90. The resiliency of spring 90 allows for manually deforming the spring 90 by depressing the projection 92 thereby disengaging the projection 92 from the hole 96. This allows to detach the joint 16 from the lateral bar 42 and/or the rear bar 24. Thus, the leg support portion 14 can be detached from the chair body portion 12 by releasing the joint 16.
The joint 16 is made in the form of a knuckle joint. Inner ends of the halves 48, 46 form a pair of spaced walls 50 defining a slit 51 therebetween and a flat projection 52 movably received in the slit. Aligned holes 56 are defined in the walls 50 and the projection 52 to receive therethrough a bolt 54 that is tightened by a nut 55 to secure the halves 46, 48 together.
A limiting device is provided between the halves 46, 48 to limit the relative rotation between the halves 46, 48. An example of the limiting device comprises a semi-circular end contour 58 formed at a very end of each wall 50 of the second half 48 and having a center coincident with the bolt 54 or holes 56. The inner end of the first half 46 forms a semicircular recess 60 on each side of the projection 52 having the same radius as and concentric with the semicircular contour 58 of the second half 48, whereby when the projection 52 of the knuckle joint is fit in the slit 51 of the second half 48, the semicircular contours 58 of walls 50 mate the corresponding recesses 60. Due to the fact that the contour 58 and the recess 60 are of the same radius and are concentric with respect to each other, the two halves 46, 48 are allowed to rotate with respect to each other about the bolt 54 between a first, regular position as indicated in FIG. 4 (as well as FIG. 6) and a second raised position as indicated in FIG. 5 (as well as FIG. 7). However, from each end of the semicircular contour 58, a straight edge 59 of the wall 50 extends. The straight edge of the second half 48 abuts against an end of the corresponding recess 60, thereby serving as a stop that retain the first and second halves 46, 48 at the second position.
Other limiting devices, such as a friction pad interposed between the faces 52 of the halves 46, 48 that provides a stepless relative rotation between the halves 46, 48 for stepless adjustability between the first and second positions between the leg support portion 14 and the chair body portion 12, are also known and can be adapted in the present invention.
The adjustability of the relative angular position between the leg support portion 14 and the chair body portion 12 allows the leg support portion 14 to change position with respect to the chair body portion 12 when the seatback 20 changes the included angle thereof with respect to the seat portion 18 thereby ensuring that the expanded ends 44 of the lateral bars 42 of the leg support portion 14 can be always in contact engagement with the fixture surface G no matter how the included angle between the seatback 20 and the seat portion 18 changes.
The raised position of the leg support portion 14, with respect to the chair body portion 12, as shown in FIG. 7, allows for a sitter to effectively relax his or her legs by resting the legs on the raised leg support portion 14.
Also referring to FIG. 8, the adjustable joint 16 between the leg support portion 14 and the chair body portion 12 also helps to stably position the expanded ends 44 of the leg support portion 14 on an irregular fixture surface G′, which is for example not coplanar with the fixture surface G on which the chair body portion 12 is positioned. Thus, the chair of the present invention can be used in an irregular surface but still stably supported the surface by rotatably adjusting the joint 16.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A chair comprising:

a body portion; and

a leg support portion coupled to the body portion by an adjustable joint that comprises first and second halves respectively attached to the leg support portion and the body portion, the first half being movable with respect to the second half between first and second positions whereby the leg support portion is movable with respect to the body portion between a regular position and a special support position.

2. The chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second halves comprise inner end portions pivotally coupled to each other to allow for relative rotation therebetween and thus movement between the first and second positions.

3. The chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner end portions of the first and second halves form a knuckle joint wherein the inner end portion of the first half comprises a projection and the inner end portion of the second half comprises two spaced walls defining a slit in which the projection of the first half is rotatably received, a pivot extending through aligned holes defined in the walls and the projection to fix the first and second halves together, while allowing the relative rotation therebetween.

4. The chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leg support portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the first half is fit, the tubular portion of the leg support portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the first half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the first half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes.

5. The chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the second half is fit, the tubular portion of the body portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the second half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the second half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes.

6. The chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body portion comprises a seat portion and a seatback that is rotatable with respect to the seat portion to change an inclined angle therebetween from a first angle to a second angle.

7. The chair as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second halves comprise inner end portions pivotally coupled to each other to allow for relative rotation therebetween and thus movement between the first and second positions.

8. The chair as claimed in claim 7, wherein the inner end portions of the first and second halves form a knuckle joint wherein the inner end portion of the first half comprises a projection and the inner end portion of the second half comprises two spaced walls defining a slit in which the projection of the first half is rotatably received, a pivot extending through aligned holes defined in the walls and the projection to fix the first and second halves together, while allowing the relative rotation therebetween.

9. The chair as claimed in claim 6, wherein the leg support portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the first half is fit, the tubular portion of the leg support portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the first half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the first half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes.

10. The chair as claimed in claim 6, wherein the body portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the second half is fit, the tubular portion of the body portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the second half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the second half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes.

11. The chair as claimed in claim 6, wherein the seat portion comprises a coupling portion for connection with the joint, the coupling portion being oriented in a direction that changes with the inclined angle the seat portion and the seatback.

12. The chair as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coupling portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the second half is fit, the tubular portion of the coupling portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the second half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the second half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes.

13. The chair as claimed in claim 11, wherein the leg support portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the first half is fit, the tubular portion of the leg support portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the first half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the first half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes.

14. The chair as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second halves comprise inner end portions pivotally coupled to each other to allow for relative rotation therebetween and thus movement between the first and second positions.

15. The chair as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inner end portions of the first and second halves form a knuckle joint wherein the inner end portion of the first half comprises a projection and the inner end portion of the second half comprises two spaced walls defining a slit in which the projection of the first half is rotatably received, a pivot extending through aligned holes defined in the walls and the projection to fix the first and second halves together, while allowing the relative rotation therebetween.

16. The chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the special support position comprises a raised position of the leg support portion with respect to the body portion.