US2341168A - Folding chaise longue - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1944. w c 2,341,168

FOLDING GHAISE LONGUE Filed July 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 8, 1944. 5.5. WEIRICK 2,341,153

FOLDING CHAISE LONGUE Filed July 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 FOLDING CHAISE LONGUE Burnell E. Weirick, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to Kalamazoo Sled Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application July 14, 1941, Serial No. 402,272

' elongated, parallel slats 4 secured at their ends 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding chaises longues.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a folding chaise longue or garden chair which is automatically adjustable from a position enabling an upright sitting posture to a fully reclined posture, or to any position intermediate these extremes, as desiredby the user.

Second, to provide a chair structure of the foregoing type which is exceedingly simple in its parts and relatively stable in erected position, and which is capable of being quickly and easily collapsed to a highly compact form for shipment or storage.

Further objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1 Fig. 1 is a side perspective view illustrating a chair or chaise longue embodying my invention, the parts being shown in one adjusted position thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation illustrating the chair adjusted to a reclining position.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation illustrating the parts in partially collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating the parts when fully collapsed.

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the foot end of the chair in its erected position, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary views I in section on lines 66, l|, respectively, of Fig. 1, further illustrating certain detail relationships of the parts. 7

The present collapsible chaise lounge or garden chair structure includes various seat, back, arm and strut members or elements operatively associated with one another in such manner that a very comfortable and stable support is provided in any adjusted position of the parts. At the same time the highly simplified character of the parts enables the construction to be readily collapsed for shipment or storage.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l in general designates the folding lounge chair or chaise longue of my invention, including an elongated combined seat and leg rest member 2 having elongated rigid parallel side bars v3. Intermediate these bars adjacent the front end of member 2, I provide a plurality of to the transverse bars .5 which extend between the side bars .3 intermediate their ends. These slats preferably rest on a transverse rod 6 which constitutes ,a stop or abutment for the front leg unit I pivoted to the side bars 3 at 8.

j The reference numeral 9 in general designates a back or backrest member including rigid side bars 10 provided adjacent the lower end thereof with bracket-like pivot plates ll; Theseat side bars 3 are pivoted to these plates at l2. It will be notedthat a portion l3 of. the back side members .10 projects downwardlybeyond pivot plate H so" as to engage the bottom surface of the seat member bars 3 in the full reclining position'of the'members 2, 9, illustrated in Fig. 2, thus preventing further pivotal movement'of the mem-' bers relative to one another in that direction.

The back member side bars II] are connected by a transverse rod [.4 at the top thereof and the seat member side bars 3 having a similar transverse rod l5 intermediate the length there of and rearwardly of the foot supporting slat unit. (See Fig.5.) A flexible canvas web back and seat element for supporting the body of the user is secured at its opposite ends to the transverse rods I4 and I5, and if desired, further stretched lengthwise of the structure over the aforesaid canvas webs, being secured at its oppio site ends to the rod I4 and transverse bar 5, re- 'spectively.

A pair of arms or arm rests 2! are pivoted'toa pivot plate 22 located intermediate the length of the back member 9, about one foot above the pivot plate II. These arm rests are likewise lpivotally connected adjacent their forward ends to the upper ends of .a pair of arm braces '23 by means of pivot plates .24, the arm braces 2'3 being in turn pivoted at their lower ends to the-side bars 3 intermediate the ends thereof. The last named pivot point 25 is spaced from the pivot 12 of the seat and back members a distance equal to the distance between the arm Jpivots on the plates .22 and 24, respectively. Coincident with the pivot point of arm braces or bars 2.3 on the arm'. pivot plates 2. 1, the said braces and arms have pivoted thereto "the forwardly inclined rear leg uni-tat, including leg side bars 211 pivoted to plates-24, transverse crossed'braci-ng-slats 28 and wheels 28| rotatably mounted on bars 21 adjacent the lower rear ends thereof for rolling engagement with the ground or other supporting surface.

Coincident with the pivot point of arm rests 2| on the rear member pivot plate 22, the said arms likewise have pivoted thereto the strut bars 29 which project downwardly and forwardly for end abutting engagement with the rear leg side bars 21 intermediate the length of the latter and forwardly projecting fingers 39 on the free ends of strut bars 29 are provided for engagement with the inner surfaces of the leg bars 21 to maintain alinement and prevent lateral play. The strut bars 29 are connected to the leg bars 21 adjacent their pivotal connection to the arms and braces 23bythelinks 3|. H

In use, the chair is set up in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, with the swinging ends of the strut bars 29 abuttingly engaging the rear surface of the leg side bars 21 of the rear leg unit 26, the back member 9 being swung partially rearwardly in counter-clockwise direction to a desired angular relationship to the seat member. The rear leg unit is swung rearwardly'in clockwise direction about its pivots until it engages strut bar 29. This provides a very stable support. If the user desires to fully recline he merely stretches out and leans backwardly somewhat, causing the back member 9 of the chair to pivot about its pivot I2 to the seat member 2 until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2. During this relative swinging of the seat and back members 2, 9, respectively, the leg unit 26 rolls rearwardly on its wheels 28! and the arm rests 2| shift somewhat relative to the arm brace and strut bar 23, 29, respectively, however the'last named strut bar continues to abuttingly engage the leg 21, being maintained in engagement therewith by the connecting link 3|. It will be understood that the structural elements above referred to are duplicated on each side of the chair structure although in certain cases in the above description I have referred only to single elements. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the respective pivot points of the strut bar 29 and'the rear legs 21 to the rear and front of the arm rests 2|, the pivot point of arm brace23 to seat member 2 and the pivot |2 of the seatand rearmembers define the corners of a parallelogram permitting free swinging of the parts in the aforesaid collapsing and erectingmovements'. Strut bar 29 looks this parallelogram against complete collapse in the rearward direction while enabling it to be collapsed forwardly as will presently be described. Enough friction is provided at the various pivotal connections to resistexcessive looseness at the joints and enable the parts to maintain any position in which they are set.

The user may position himself in any one of many very comfortable reclining, semi-reclining or sitting positions. The chair is entirely automatic in these movements, no special provision i being needed for the adjustments. The parts are exceedingly simple and. in erected position are effectively braced and trussed so as to' resist looseness or wabbling at the pivotal connections.

The chair may be easily collapsed for storage or shipment by merely pivoting the rear member 9 forwardly in clockwise direction relative to the seat member about pivot l2, as illustrated in Fig. 3, bringing these members into parallelism. The front legs 1 are then swung rearwardly into parallel, telescoped relation on the inner sides of the seat member bars 3, and as a final step the rear leg unit 26 is swung forwardly in counterclockwise direction about its pivot to the arms to bring the same in side by side relation to the bottom of the seat member 2 at the front end thereof. This operation is performed in a very few seconds time and results in a compact, collapsed relation of the parts, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The free shiftability of the strut bar 29 makes possible this highly compact collapsing of the parts, swinging forwardly and upwardly counterclockwise as leg unit 26 is brought to collapsed position. Notwithstanding this, strut bar 29 effectively braces and supports the seat and back members 2, 9 in erected position, forming with the legs 21 engaged thereby and the pivotally connected arm rests 2| and arm braces 23, a truss construction which effectively resists wracking or undesired collapse. I

It should be noted that the pivot plates or brackets l, 24 and 25 all project from the meme her to which they are fixedly secured so that the part pivoted thereto may collapse flat against the part carrying the pivot member.

An embodiment of the invention which incorporates the principles of the invention in a highly desirable manner has been illustrated and described. It should be understood that the foregoing terminologyjis used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, and with full intention to include equivalents of the features shown and described, Within the scope of the following claims. 1

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

1. A collapsible chair or lounge structure, comprising pivotally connected seat and back members swingable relative to one another from a collapsible position in side by side parallelism to selected angularly related positions including a fully erected reclining position in which the back member constitutes an extension of the seat member, arms pivotally. connected to said back member to project forwardly. thereof above the seat member in approximateparallelism therewith in erected position, arm supporting bars pivotally connectedto the forward ends of said arms and to said seat member intermediate the length thereof; a rear leg unit pivoted to said arms at the pivot point of the supporting .bars thereto, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said pivot point and provided with wheels rollingly engageablewith a. supporting surface, strut bars pivotally connected to said arms at the pivot of the latter to the back member, the free end of said strut bars abutting ly engaging the rear of said inclined leg unit in operative position thereof to maintain the arms in approximateparallelism with the seat member, and link means pivotallyconnected at its ends to said free ends of the'strut bars and to said leg unit above the point of abutting engagement of the strut bars therewith, saidleg unit being collapsible forwardly and upwardly beneath said seat member and said link means being actuated by said last named'collapsing movementto elevate said strut bars into inoperative position in close, approximately-parallel adjacency to said arms.

2. A collapsible chair or lounge structure; comprising pivotally connected seat and back members swingable 180 relativeto one another from a collapsible position in parallelism to selected .angularly related positions including a fully erected reclining position in which the back member constitutes an extension of the seat member, arms pivotally connected to said back member to project forwardly thereof above the seat member in approximate parallelism therewith in erected position, arm supporting bars pivotally connected to the forward ends of said arms and to said seat member intermediate the length thereof, a rear leg unit pivoted to said arms at the pivot point of the supporting bars thereto, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said pivot point and having movable engagement with a supporting surface, strut bars pivotally connected to said arms at the pivot ofthe latter to the back member, the free end of said trust bars abuttingly engaging the rear of said inclined leg unit in operative position thereof to maintain the arms in approximate parallelism with the seat member, and link means pivotally connected at its ends to said strut bars and to said leg unit in offset relation to the point of abutting engagement of the strut bars therewith, said leg unit being collapsible forwardly and upwardly beneath said seat member and said link means being actuated by said last named collapsing movement to elevate said strut bars into inoperative position in close, approximately parallel adjacency to said arms.

3. A collapsible chair or lounge structure, comprising pivotally connected seat and back members swingable from collapsed position to selected angularly related positions, arms connected to said back member, a rear leg unit pivoted to said arms, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardly and having movable engagement with a supporting surface, strut bars pivotally connected to said arms, the free ends of said strut bars abuttingly engaging the rear of said inclined leg unit in operative position thereof, and link means pivotally connected at its ends to said strut bars and to said leg unit in offset relation to the point of abutting engagement of the strut bars therewith, said leg unit being collapsible forwardly and upwardly beneath said seat member and said link means being actuated by said last named collapsing movement to elevate said strut bars into inoperative position.

4. A collapsible chair or lounge structure, comprising pivotally connected seat and back members swingable to selected angularly related positions, arms connected to said back member, a rear leg unit pivoted to said arms, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardly and provided with wheels rollingly engageable with a supporting surface, strut bars pivotally connected to said arms, the free end of said strut bars abuttingly engaging the rear of said inclined leg unit in operative position thereof, and link means pivotally connected at its ends to said free ends of the strut bars and to said leg in which the back member constitutes an extension of the said member, arms pivotally connected to said back-member, arm supporting bars pivotally connected to said arms and to said seat member, a rear leg unit pivoted to said arms adjacent the pivotal point of the braces thereto, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said pivot to the arms and having movable engagement with a supporting surface, and strut means pivotally connected to said arms adjacent the pivot of the latter to the back member, said strut means abuttingly engaging said inclined leg unit in operative position thereof, and being pivotally connected to said leg unit above the point of the abutting engagement of the strut means therewith, said leg unit being collapsible forwardly beneath said seat member and simultaneously actuating said strut means to inoperative position to said arms.

6. A collapsible lounge structure, comprising pivotally connected seat and back members swingable relative to one another from an inoperative collapsible position in side by side parallelism to the fully erected reclining position in which the back member constitutes an extension of the said member, arms pivotally connected to said back member, a rear leg unit pivoted to said arms, said leg unit being inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said pivot to the arms and having movable engagement with a supporting surface, and strut means pivotally connected to said arms adjacent the pivotof the latter to the back member, said strut means abuttingly engaging said inclined leg unit in operative position thereof, and being pivotally connected to said leg unit in spaced relation to the point of the abutting engagement of the strut means therewith, said leg unit being collapsible forwardly beneath said seat member and simultaneously actuating said strut means to inoperative position to said arms.

'7. A collapsible chair structure, comprising a frame including pivotally connected seat and back members swingable relative to one another, means for limiting said swinging movement, and arm rests pivoted at the rear thereof to said back member, a leg unit pivoted to said frame having wheels on the free end thereof rollingly engageable with a supporting surface as said seat and back members are pivoted relative to one another, strut bars pivotally connected at one end to said frame and abuttingly engaging said leg unit at their opposite ends, and links pivotally connected to said leg unit adjacent the pivot point thereof to the frame and to said strut bars adjacent said opposite ends thereof, and maintaining said strut bars in predetermined relation to said leg unit in erected condition of the chair structure, said leg unit being swingable forwardly to collapsed position adjacent the seat unit and simultaneously retracting said link and strut bar to which the same is connected to inoperative position.

8. A collapsible chair structure, comprising a frame including pivotally connected seat and back members swingable relative to one another, means for limiting said swingin movement, and arm rests pivoted at the rear thereof to said back member, a leg unit pivoted to said frame, said unit being movably engageable with a supporting surface as said seat and back members are pivoted relative to one another, strut bars pivotally connected at one end to said frame and abuttingly engaging said leg unit at their opposite ends, and means pivotally connecting said leg unit adjacent the pivot point thereof to the frame and said strut bars adjacent said opposite ends thereof, and maintaining said strut bars in predetermined relation to said leg unit in erected condition of the chair structure, said leg unit being swingable forwardly to collapsed position adjacent the seat unit and simultaneously retracting said last named means and strut bar to which the same is connected to inoperative position.

' 9. In a collapsible chair structure, pivotally connected seat and back members swingable relative to one another, an arm rest member pivoted at the rear thereof to said back member, a brace member pivotally connected to said seat member and to said arm rest member adjacent the front thereof, a leg unit engageable with a supporting surface at one end thereof and pivoted adjacent the other end thereof to said arm rest member at the pivot point of the rest and brace members, a strut pivotally connected to said rest and back members adjacent the point of pivotal connection thereof and abuttingly engaging said leg unit, and a link pivotally connected to said strut and to said leg unit adjacent the point of pivotal connection of the latter to said arm rest member, said leg unit being swingable to collapsed position adjacent the seat member and simultaneously retracting said link and strut to inoperative collapsed position.

10. In a collapsible chair structure, pivotally connected seat and back members swingable relative to one another, an arm rest member pivoted 'at'the rear thereof to said back member, a'brace member sustaining said arm rest membena leg unit engageable with a supporting surface at one end thereof and pivoted adjacent the other end thereof to said arm rest member, a strut pivotally connected to said rest and back members adjacent the point ofpivotal connection thereof and abuttingly engaging said leg unit, and a link pivotally connected to said strut and to said leg unit adjacent the point of pivotal connection of the latter to said arm rest member, said leg unit being swingable to collapsed position adjacent the seat member and simultaneously retracting said link and strut to inoperative collapsed position. 4

11. In a collapsible chair structure, pivotally connected seat and back members swingable relative to one another, an arm rest member pivoted at the rear thereof to said back member, a brace member sustaining said arm rest member, a leg unit engageable with a supporting surface at one end thereof and pivoted adjacent the other end thereof to said arm rest member, a strut pivotally connected to one of said rest and back members and abuttingly engaging said leg unit, and a link pivotally connected to said strut and to said leg unit adjacent the point of pivotal connection of the latter to said arm rest member, said leg unit being swingable t0 collapsed position adjacent the seat member and simultaneously retracting said link and strut to inoperative collapsed position. BURNELL E. WEIRICK.

Images