US2252097A

US2252097A - Adjustable chair

Info

Publication number: US2252097A
Application number: US312728A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Rockenfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-01-06
Filing date: 1940-01-06
Publication date: 1941-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1958-08-12

Description

Aug., l2, 19M. W. A. ROCKENFIELD lf ADJUSTABLE CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 6, 1940 IN'VENTOR.

W/W/mf i /facefff/d BY mi es ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed Jan. 6, 1940 2 INVENTOR.

l ATTORNEYS,

W. A. ROCKENFIELD 22,097

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UITED T TES anni

TENT

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable chairs.

This invention relates to chairs `and particularly to chairs having backs which are adjustable as to inclination. It has Vfor its bjects:

N First, to produce a new land improved chair.

Second, to produce such a chair having a novel and highly efficient mechanism by means of which the inclination of the back may be adjusted.

Third, to provide such a chair having back adjusting mechanism which is extremely simple in form and which can be made economically.

Fourth, to produce a chair having such mechanism which is positive in its operation and in which the release of the locking mechanism may be accomplished easily.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction 'and operation will appear from the description to follow. Preferred embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of `a chair embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the chair taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 5, showing the relationship of the chair adjusting mechanismto the chair back.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, showing the friction lock mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line elf-4 of Fig. 2 showing the manner of pivoting the back of the chair. l

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view embodyingV my invention showing the arrangement of theworking parts.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the frictional parts of the adjusting mechanism in disassembled relationship.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional `view taken through the friction slide forming part of my improved mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the operation of the wedge actuating mechanism.

yMy new and improved chair I consists of a frame 2 of conventional form anda back 3 which is pivoted .on .pivots 4 to the frame so that it may be adjusted as to inclination as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The back is held in adjusted Yposition by the rod 5 which is fastened in the back which extends downwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to be pivotally connected with a link 6 by a rivet or screw/l. The linkY B is pivoted at its other end at 8 to my improved adjusting mechanism.

My improved adjusting mechanism consists of a fixed friction member 9 which is fixed to the frame .2 by screws I0. The friction face Il of this member extends on a line perpendicular to the front and rear edges of the chair. Opposed to the face I I is .theiixed wedge I2 which has its face I3 spaced from and opposed to the Yface II of the iixed friction member 9. The face I3 of the iixed wedge I2 extends on a line generally from front to rear of the chair but is inclined away from the face II of the member Il toward the back of the chair. The iixed wedge is held in place on frame 2 by suitable screws Ill. A plate MIE preferably covers a portion of the wedge I2.

Disposed between the fixed friction member 9 and the fixed wedge I2 is a movable wedge I5. The movable wedge I5 `has its face I6 opposed .toand in contact with the face I3 .of the fixed wedge I2. Its face Il lies parallel with the face II of the fixed friction member 9. Disposed between the faces II and Il is a slide IB which is provided with projecting ears I9 and apertured as vat 8 for attachment to the end of the link -I.

I prefer to make -the` edges 25 of the slide `III of tapered form as shown and to employ friction materialin making these edges. I -have found that regular V--belting, either in leather or rubber, is satisfactory for this purpose.

In order lto accommodate the edges 20 of the slide I 8, I groove the face II as shown at 2I and the face Il as shown Iat 22, so that the edges 20 Vof the slide will fit slidably therein.

In my invention, I provide greater friction between the slide I8 andthe movable wedge I5 than between the movable wedge I5 and the fixed wedge I2, so that any Ytendency to move the slide IB will tend to move the slide I5 so that any force exerted against the chair back tending to tilt it will force the slide I8 with the wedge I5 into a position to tightly lock the slide in position. This may be 'accomplished as shown in the drawings by having the xed wedge I2 and the slidable wedge I5 made of wood with the opposed faces simple plain faces, while the friction material on the edges 2!) of the slide I8 also increases the friction between the slide I8 and the sliding wedge I5.

I may, to assure even frictional engagement between the edges 2U oi' the slide I8 and the faces II and I'I, provide spring means to urge the edges of the slide I8 outwardly. In such a construction, the edges 20 of the slide I8 are not fixed thereto. 'Ihey are provided with sockets 23 into which pins 24 on the slide I8 extend and are urged outwardly by compressed coil spring 25 fitted in bores 26 in the slide I8 and extending into sockets 21 in the sides 20.

In order to control the movement of the chair, I provide a wedge release lever 28 which is pivoted at 29 to the xed friction member 9 and at 30 to the movable wedge I5. The end of the lever 28 extends towards the edge o-f the frame and is provided with lan aperture 3| into which hook 32 on link 33 is inserted. The link 33 is pivoted at 34 to a lever 35 which is keyed on a shaft 36 which extends to the outside of the frame where it receives a handle 31 which can be manipulated to move the wedge I5 back and forth along the fixed wedge I2 to release or lock the slide I8 lin adjusted position.

A spring 38 having one end fastened to bracket 39 which is provided with a series of holes 49 is fastened to the lever 28 at 4I, where a series of holes may be provided as shown to make possible the positioning of the spring to give the desired tension. The spring is biased to tend to pull the wedge I5 into locking position. The mechanism above described holds the chair back firmlyin any adjusted position |to which it is set because of spring 38 which urges the movable wedge I5 to wedging position.

In order to assure an easy release of the chair back .when it is desired to have it return to vertical position, I provideY a stop consisting of a bracket 42 -with screw 43 engaging the end of slide I5 to limit movement of the slide I5 in the unlocking direction. The screw 43 may be adjusted sovthait a friction is exerted on the slide I8, although the friction must not be strong enough to overcome the action of springs 44 which are fastened to the ears I9 of 'the slide I8V at the point 8 and are fastened to the frame at the Vpoint 45, being biased to urge the chair back to vertical position whenever it is not locked in an inclined position.

The locking means above described may be made easily and simply and it has the advantage of being easy to release to permit the chair back to return to vertical position, although it locks the back positively and wedges tightly when a force is exerted against the chair back tending to give it more inclination.

The terms and expressions which have been here employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and describedl or portions thereof. It is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of thev invention claimed.

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

1. In a chair having a frame and a pivoted back thereon adjustable as to inclination and spring means tending to swing the back to vertical position, the combination of a fixed friction member mounted on the frame and having a longitudinally grooved face extending substam tially perpendicularly to the pivotal axis of said direction of said chair back, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a longitudinally grooved face extending parallel to the grooved face of said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge and having side members of fric tion material shaped to fit in the grooves of said longitudinally grooved faces and spring pressed outwardly from said slide, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said xed wedge to clamp said slide between the longitudinally grooved faces of said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to release the same, spring means for normally urging said sliding wedge to slide clamping position, a stop to limit movement of said sliding wedge in the direction which releases said slide whereby the slide is maintained in frictional contact with said movable wedge, and means connecting said slide to said chair back whereby the position of said slide determines the adjusted position of said chair back.

2. In a chair having a frame and a pivoted back thereon adjustable as to inclination and spring means tending to swing the back to verticalf position, the combination of a fixed friction member mounted on the frame and having a longitudinally grooved face extending substantially perpendicularly to the pivotal axis of said back, a fixed backing wedge mounted on the frame and having a face spaced from and opposed ito said first mentioned face and at an angle thereto diverging therefrom in the general direction of said chair back, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a longitudinally grooved face extending parallel to the grooved face of said xed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and said slidN able wedge and having side members of friction material shaped to fit in the grooves of said longitudinally grooved faces, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between the longitudinally grooved faces of said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to release the same, spring means for normally urging said sliding wedge to slide clamping position, a stop to limit movement of said sliding wedge in the direction which releases said slide whereby the slide is maintained in frictional contact with said movable wedge, and means connecting said slide to said chair back whereby the position of ,said slide determines the adjusted position of said chair back.

3. In a rchair having a frame and a pivoted back thereon adjustable as to inclination, the combination of a fixed friction member mounted on the fram-e and having a face extending substantially perpendiculaily to the pivotal axis of said back, a fixed backing wedge mounted on the frame and having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentioned face and at an angle thereto diverging therefrom in the general direction of said chair back, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a face extending parallel to the face of said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge, means providing greater friction between said slide and said slidable wedge than between said slidable wedge and said fixed wedge, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between the fixed friction member and said sliding Wedge or to release the same, spring means for normally urging said sliding wedge to slide clamping position, and means connecting said slide to said chair back whereby the position of said slide determines the adjusted position of said chair back.

4. In a chair having a frame and a pivoted back thereon adjustable as to inclination, the combination of a fixed friction member mounted on the frame and having a face extending substantially perpendicularly to the pivotal axis of said back, a fixed backing wedge mounted on the frame and having a falce spaced from and opposed to said rst mentioned face and at an angle thereto diverging therefrom in the general direction of said chair back, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a face lextending parallel to the face of said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge, means providing greater friction between said slide and said slidable wedge than between said slidable wedge and said fixed wedge, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between the fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to release the same, and means connecting said slide to said chair back whereby the position of said slide determines the adjusted position of said chair back.

5. In a chair having a frame having thereon a back adjustable as to inclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprising a fixed friction member mounted on said frame and having a longitudinally grooved face, a fixed backing wedge mounted on said frame and having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentioned face and at an angle thereto, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a longitudinally grooved face extending parallel to the grooved face of said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction inember and said slidable wedge and having side members of friction material shaped to t in the grooves of said longitudinally grooved faces and spring pressed outwardly from said slide, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between the longitudinally grooved faces of said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to release the same, and means connecting said slide and said chair back.

6. In a chair having a frame having thereon a back adjustable as to inclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprising a fixed friction member mounted on said frame and having a longitudinally grooved face, a fixed backing wedge mounted on said frame and having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentioned face and at an angle thereto, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed Wedge, and a longitudinally grooved face extending parallel to the grooved face f said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and said slid-able wedge and having side members of friction material shaped to fit in the grooves of said longitudinally grooved faces, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between the longitudinally grooved faces of said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to release the same, and means connecting said slide and said chair back.

'7. In a chair having a frame and a back thereon :adjustable asI to inclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprising a fixed friction member mounted on said frame and having a face, a fixed backing wedge mounted on the frame and having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentioned face and dii/erging therefrom, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging Ithe face of said fixed wedge, and a face extending parallel to the face of said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge, means providing greater friction between said slide and said slidable wedge than between said slid-able Wedge and said fixed wedge, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to release the same, and means connecting said slide and said chair back.

8. In a chair having a frame and a back thereon adjustable as to inclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprising a fixed friction member mounted on said frame and having a face, a fixed backing wedge mounted on said frame and having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentioned face and diverging therefrom, la slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a face extending parallel to the face of said fixed friction member and spa-ced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge, friction material disposed between said slide and said slidable wedge to provide greater friction between said slide and slidable wedge than between said slidable wedge and said fixed wedge, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to release the samie, and means connecting said slide and said chair back.

9. In a chair having a frame and a back thereon adjustable as to inclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprising a xed friction member mounted on said frame and having a face, a fixed backing wedge mounted on said frame and having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentioned face and diverging therefrom, a slidable wedgeV disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a face extending parallel to the face of said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge, friction material disposed between the faces of the slide and the opposing faces of said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge, means for slidingsaid sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to release the s-ame, and means connecting said slide and said chair back.

WILLIALE A. ROCKENFIEID.