US2541938A - Reclining chair - Google Patents

Description

J. G. RIDEOUT RECLINING CHAIR Feb 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 5, 1947 l Nb 1N VEN TOR.

JUHN E.

Emma? is? I 921% Q J. G. RIDEOUT- RECLINING CHAIR Feb. 13, 1951 2, Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3', 1947 INVENTOR. JUHN 5. Emmy? Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT B Q INING CHALK:

John Gordon Ridpollt, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, as-

signor to Gendron Wheel- Compan-y. Perrysbnrg, Obie ac rporetinn of Main Application March 3, 1941. SerialNo. 132,0{13

4 C aims, 1:

This invention relatesto chairs, but partic" ularly to a chair inwhich. thebackand seat frames are adjustable, thereby to: enhance its comfort and usefulness.

An object is to produce a chair in which. the back and seat are suspended in a novel manner from a spring support so that the resilience of the support is employed to the fullest advantage.

Another object isto so mount the back and seat frames that adjustment of one automatically imparts predetermined movement tov the other, thereby to increa e the comfort to the occupant.

A further object is to produce a chair having a back, seat and leg rest so conjoined that these parts move together in a predetermined manner between a reclining position and upright position.

A still further object is to produce a chair in which the back is suspended from said supporting frames in a novel manner and in which the seat is suspended from the back frame and side frames. a leg frame being articulated to. the seat suspending means in such mannerthat shifting of the seat. imparts raising or lowerin movements to the leg rest.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the chair in upright position;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the chair in the position shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side perspective view showing the chair in reclining position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view showing frag- -ments of the parts to illustrate the mounting of the seat, back and leg rest of the articulated connection between certain of the parts.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a chair having a supporting frame consisting of a pair of laterally spaced substantially C-shaped cantilever spring members I!) formed of metal tubing. Each cantilever spring member has an upper horizontally disposed arm Ifla, the rear end portion of which is free and,

as shown, curves downwardly. A vertical front 1 portion lllb is integral at its upper end with the horizontal arm portion lfla and at its lower portion with a horizontally disposed foot portion N10. The rear ends of the foot portion I00 are connected by a tube lfld and the forward por- 2 tions of the feet Inc are secured by a substantially U-shaped tube me, which spaces the front end portion of the frame slightly from the supporting surface.

Positioned between the arms [Ila of the cantilever supporting frame is a back H which consists of an arched metal tubular member He, the lower ends of which are joined by a horizontal tube lib. The, opposite ends of the tube Hb project outwardly a short distance beyond the arched member Ha providing extensions Hc. Rigid with each extension is a forwardlyand upwardly bent suspending arm or hangerl2, forming substantially the letter J, the upper end of the arm I2 being pivotally connected to the adjacent frame, ann um at H. Boltedto each frame, arm 19a is an arm rest M which may be of wood; or other suitable material and covers the major portion of the same.

From the above. description, it will be apparent that the back is pivotally connected to the spring arms ma at forwardly spaced, points and the back is. in effect, suspended; from the spring arms. The mounting of the back is such that it tends to rock rearwardly or toward a reclining position such as shown in Figure 3.

The seat frame is made up of a substantially rectangular frame ll of metal tubing. Secured by screws to each side of the frame I! is a bracket l9 in the form of a metal strip, the rear end 20 of which inclines upwardly and rearwardly and is pivotally connected at 2| to a lower rearwardly disposed portion of the adjacent J arm [2. The front end portion of each bracket strip l9 has an upwardly curved portion 22 somewhat shorter than the end portion 20, and is pivotally connected at 23 to an intermediate portion of a vertically disposed arm 24. The upper end of each arm 24 is pivoted to the adjacent cantilever spring arm I 0a at a point forwardly of the J arm pivot l3. Each arm 24 is generally C-shaped with the upper end portion reversely or forwardly curved and the pivotal connection 23 arranged slightly below the center of the arm. Each arm 24 depends below the seat frame I! and pivoted to the lower end of each arm is a forwardly extending link 25, the front end of which is pivoted to a substantially U-shaped tubular leg rest 26 adjacent its pivotal connection to the end portions of the frame l1. It will be observed that the back frame H and seat frame I! are provided with suitable spring cushion elements 21.

Pivoted to each cantilever spring arm Illa on the same pivot pin to which the lever 24 is connected, is a rod 28 which inclines rearwardly and extends through a split sleeve 29 for sliding movement. The sleeve 29 has pivotal movement upon a bolt 30 which extends through the J arm l2 from which it is spaced by a sleeve 3|. A hand wheel 32 on the bolt 30 enables the split sleeve 29 to be tightened securely upon the rod 28, thereby to secure and retain the parts in the selected position of adjustment.

From the above description, it will be understood that by loosening the hand wheels 32, the chair may be adjusted to any selected position between an upright position shown in Figure 1 and a fully reclining position shown in Figure 3. This can be accomplished by the occupant leaning back against the back frame ll, whereupon the seat frame is automatically shifted forwardly to an inclined position with the front end portion tilted upwardly. At the same time, due to the articulated connection which includes arms 24 and links 25, the leg rest 26 is swung upwardly. After the desired amount of reclining movement has been achieved, by tightening the hand wheels 32, the chair will remain in the adjusted position. It will also be understood that by loosening the hand wheels 32 and by the person leaning forwardly, the parts will return to their normal upright sitting position.

One particular advantage of the above construction lies in the manner in which the back frame, seat frame and leg rest are connected for effecting the desired movement with a minimum of effort. The upward tilting of the seat as indicated particularly on Figures 3 and 5 contributes materially to the comfort of the occupant. The chair has the advantage of the resiliency or springiness of the cantilever spring frames as will be manifest and this, coupled with the spring structure of the back and seat, together with the usual upholstered cushions, contribute to the comfort of the occupant.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A chair comprising a pair of laterally spaced side frames, each having a horizontally disposed arm portion, a back frame comprising a substantially inverted U-shaped member disposed between said side frames and having at each of the lower ends thereof a substantially J -shaped hanger extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom and thence generally upwardly, a pivotal connection between the upper end of each hanger and the adjacent frame arm portion, a seat frame, and means for connecting said seat frame to said hangers and said frame arm portions.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1, in which the side frames constitute cantilever spring members.

3. A chair as claimed in claim 2, in which said connection between the seat frame and said hangers is located at an intermediate point on the lower end of said hangers.

4. In a. chair as claimed in claim 2, a rod pivoted to each horizontal arm portion forwardly of the pivotal connection between the upper end of each hanger and the adjacent free arm portion, said rods respectively extending "generally downwardly and rearwardly from said horizontal arm portions and crossing the generally upwardly-extending portions of said J-shaped hangers, and manually releasable rod-gripping means on the generally upwardly-extending portions of said J-shaped hangers for maintaining said back frame in selected positions of angularity with respect to said arm portions.

JOHN GORDON RIDE-OUT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 364,732 Santee June 14, 1887 403,318 Arnold May 14, 1889 2,208,800 Lorenz July 23, 1940 2,353,838 Lorenz July 18, 1944

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