US2142713A - Reclining chair - Google Patents

Description

- J. w. CAMPBELL Jan. 3, 1939.

RECLINING CHAIR 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 ya? w INVENTOR. MWWUM A44 ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 3, 1939.

J. w. CAMPBELL RECLINING GHA'IR Filed Nov. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to chair constructions and more particularly to upholstered or overstuffed chairs of the reclining or tilting type.

While reclining chairs of the general type here 5 involved are well-known, they have not had as extensive distribution or use as they might have had because in some cases the chairs were too expensive, in some cases the construction was difficult to manufacture on a mass production 10 basis and in other cases the chairs were of such nature that they did not operate satisfactorily over long periods of time in a trouble-free manner.

One of the objects of my present invention is iii to produce a chair of novel construction which is not only free from the disadvantages of previous chairs but which lends itself well to mass production on an economical basis.

Another object of my invention resides in pro- 20 ducing a chair of the overstuffed or unholstered type which is capable of being tilted or reclined for rest or lounging purposes and which is extremely simple in its construction.

A further object of my invention resides in a 25 reclining or tilting chair which is so constructed as to render the same safe and practical in use and which is capable of being locked in desired position.

Other and further objects and advantages re- 30 side in the various combinations, subcombinations and details hereinafter set forth and in such further matters as will be understood by those skilled in this art.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like 35 numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the various views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a chair embodying my present invention and illustrated in its normal position;

40 Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the chair in its tilted position;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the bottom frame construction of the chair and shows the present invention incorporated in an otherwise conven- 45 tional framework;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of one side of the bottom frame of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of Figure 3 in its normal position and showing in dotted 50 lines the relationship of the parts when the chair is tilted; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the locking mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I 55 indicates the conventional side rails of a chair bottom framework, the numeral ll indicates the front rail thereof and the numeral I2 indicates the back or rear rail of the framework. Seat spring support members l3, (three being shown in Figure 3), extend longitudinally from the front rail H to the back rail 12 and are spaced apart as shown.

The chair illustrated has a pair of back posts it connected at or near their upper ends by top back rail l and at or near their lower ends by the center back rail H5. The chair is provided with arms l1 and arm stumps l8 which connect the arms I! with the side rails ID. The chair is likewise provided with front legs l9 and the framework of the chair bottom may be provided with the usual corner braces or strengthening members 2%]. The structure so far described is conventional and represents a typical example of chair or chair construction to which the present invention is applicable.

Secured to the inner side of each side rail lil at the rearward half thereof is a member 21 of a special configuration and hereinafter referred to as a shaped member. This top of the shaped member H is flush with the upper edge of the side rail l0 and the member has an under or lower edge or surface 22 which is characterized by being of a concave nature. This concavity may be produced in the member either by curved surfaces, by connected angular surfaces (as shown by way of example) or by a combination of the two, and this surface acts as a bearing surface, as will be hereinafter more fully understood. The surface is considered as concave for the purposes of this application whether made up of curves, angular surfaces or both.

Associated with each side rail I9 and disposed beneath member 2! is a base or supporting member 23 which has a generally convex upper edge or surface 24 and feet 25 which rest on a floor or other supporting surface. At spaced points in this convex upper surface 24 bearings of the ball or roller type are provided. These consist, for example, of a shaft rod or other support 26 suitably mounted in cut-away or recessed portions 21 of the upper convex surface 24 and upon which are revolvable sleeves or rolls 28 which project somewhat above the convex surface. It is these sleeves or rolls 28 with which the hearing surface of the shaped member 2! contacts during tilting movements and while the convex surface 24 and the bearing surface 22 are roughly parallel or concentric to each other and relatively closely spaced, this is subject to variation, as will be appreciated. 66

On the inner side of each supporting member 23 is located a projecting pin or dowel 29 which, in cooperation with a stop 30 rising from the ad- J'acent seat spring support I3, limits relative movement of the various parts. In particular these two members prevent tilting of the chair beyond a certain predetermined angle to the horizontal, thereby eliminating the possibility of the chair being tilted back too far for safety and hence overturning. The seat spring support I3 is also provided with a slot 31 substantially underneath the pin or dowel 29 and below this slot is a readily detachable projecting member, such as the screw 32, which is secured in the side rail In. This member 32 prevents disassembly of the supporting member 23 and when disassembly is desired or required, such as for repair or replacement purposes, then this member is removed with the result that dowel 29 can be caused to pass through slot 3| and thus effect removal of the supporting member 23.

As best shown in Fig. 6, a looking or latching member is pivotally secured to the bottom edge of rail l and this consists of a thin plate-like metal member 33 having an operating handle portion 34. The member 33 is pivotally secured to rail ill by a suitable fastening instrumentality 35. At a suitable point the supporting member 23 is provided with a horizontal slot 36 extending part way through the supporting member and of such size as to receive the latching member 33. This enables the chair to be used as a non-tilt chair as, by causing latching member 33 to pass into the slot 36, the construction is locked against relative movement of the parts. Additional slots can, however, be provided in member 23 so as to lock the chair in its tilted position or in an intermediate position and thus it is within the scope of my invention to provide for locking the parts in any of the various possible positions.

It is thus clear that I have produced a chair construction which, while extremely simple, is characterized by exceptionally efficient operation and which can be readily converted to a non-tilting or fixed condition. It will likewise be apparent that my new chair construction can be readily disassembled when required and readily reassembled. The chair construction is characterized by its capability of being produced on a mass production basis at minimum cost and with minimum manufacturing operations.

The foregoing is intended as illustrative and not limitative and I may, within the scope of the appended claim, make variations, substitutions, modifications and omissions in the invention or construction. I may make the parts of any desired material, whether metallic or non-metallic, and I may change the proportions and relative relationships between the parts for different sizes and types of chairs. While intended more particularly for use in connection with reclining chairs of the upholstered or overstuffed type, the construction may, however, be used for other purposes and in connection with other pieces of furniture where the principles and construction hereof find application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a reclining chair construction, a vertical side rail, a horizontal seat spring support spaced from said side rail, a shaped member secured to said side rail and disposed between the side rail and the seat spring support, a supporting member disposed beneath said shaped member, bearings between said members for permitting relative movement therebetween and removable means for maintaining said supporting member in operative assembly, said seat spring support having a vertical stop member and a slot spaced therefrom and said supporting member having a laterally extending dowel adapted to abut said stop member to limit relative movement of the parts and to enter said slot for disassembling purposes when said supporting member maintaining means is removed.

JAY W. CAMPBELL.

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