US2655200A

US2655200A - Reclining article of furniture

Info

Publication number: US2655200A
Application number: US703559A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lorenz Anton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-10-16
Filing date: 1946-10-16
Publication date: 1953-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1970-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1953 A. LORENZ RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE s Shets-Shet 2 Filed 001;. 16, 1946 &

z RN. M E0, v/- N M M w 4m HIS ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1953 A. LORENZ 2,655,200

RECLININGARTICLEOF FURNITURE Filed Oct. 16, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 5 if .l g?

I H l S ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to articles of furniture, and more particularly to a reclining article of furniture, wherein the seat and the back-rest form movable links of a polygonal compound linkage including a sliding pair.

An object of the present inventionis to provide a reclining article of furniture of above described type, wherein the movable members of the article of furniture are very well balanced, so that an occupant resting in the article of furniture may bring th movable members of the article of furniture from one position into another position without great effort.

A further object of the present invention is to improve upon reclining articles of furniture as now ordinarily made.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and par-ts, asset forth L in the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the same being described in the specification and being illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an adjustable reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side Wall of the support being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view,

partly in section, of the arm rest of the chair q? shown in Fig. 1, in an enlarged scale, s

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of an adjustable reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall of the support being broken away, 7

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the arm rest of the chair shown in Fig. 4, in an enlarged scale,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, N

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-! of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of another-em bodiment of an adjustable reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of a side wall of the support being broken away,

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the arm-rest of the chair shown in Fig. 8, in an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line III-l0 of Fig. 9. 0

Referring now to Figs. 1-3, 220 generally indicates a rigid support comprising two side frames 222 rigidly connected with each other by

transverse rods

200 and 224. The adjustable reclining chair shown in said figure has a permanently constrained linkage including the back-rest 236, the eat 244, the front link 260, the top link or armrest 262 and the guiding link 29!) as movable links and the portion of the support 220 between the pivot 252 of the back-rest 236 and the pivot 296 of the eluding link 290 as a stationary link.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the top link 262 has a hollow portion with a slot 212 for the passage of the front link 260 and the guiding link 290,

a great portion of which is concealed by the walls of the hollow portion of the top link 262. A guiding means or guiding rod 282 secured to the top link 262 is arranged within said hollow portion of the top link 262. The upper portion 293 of the guiding link 290 embracing the guiding rod 282 forms the slider of the

sliding pair

293, 282 of the polygonal link-system of the chair. The slider 293 may be displaced relative to the guiding rod 282 between the set collars 211 and 218 secured to the guiding rod 282. The lower end portion of the guiding link 290 is pivoted to the support 226 at 296.

The rear portion of the top link 262 is pivoted at 288 to an intermediate point of the back-rest 236 in a plane above the plane ofthe seat 244. The lower end portion of the back-rest 236- is pivotally connected with the rear portion of the seat 244 at 252. The front portion of theseat 244 is pivoted at 256 to the lower end portion of the front link 260, the upper end 'portion' of which passing through a slot 2l8 of'the guiding rod 282'is pivoted to the latter at 264. 7 Thus, the pivotally connected back-rest 236, seat 244, front link 260 and top link 262 form a four-sided linksystem of a polygonal linkage including the swingable guiding link 290 shiftably engaged with the guiding rod 282 of the top link 262. The

foursided link system

236, 244, 26-0, 262 is swingably mounted on the support 220 at 252 in'co-axial alignment with the pivotal connection between the back-rest 236 and the seat 244 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 296 between the support 226 and the guiding link 290.

When the back-rest is swung about its pivot 252, the movable members of the chairmay be brought, for example, from the sitting position shown in full lines, into a reclined position, :for example, the extreme reclined position shown in dash-and-dot'lines.

The sitting position is limited by an'abutment of the seat 244' against the cross-bar200 acting as a stop. The extreme reclined position is limited by an abutment of the set-collar 218 secured to the guiding rod 282 against the guiding link 230.

The movable members of the chair may be held in any desired position by means of a locking device generally indicated by 22!. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the connecting link 290 is in the shape of a clip having bores 223 for rotatable engagement with the bolt 236 mounted on the side wall'222 of the support 220. A square portion 225 of the bolt 296 is inserted into a corresponding square aperture of the side wall 22.2 of the support 220. A head 221 of the bolt 296 rests against a surface of said side wailflfi. The square portion 225 prevents the bolt 23.6 from rotation when a locking knob 229 is screwed on the threaded end of the bolt 2%. When. said locking knob 229 is loosened, the guiding rod 282 may freely slide in the clip 290, so that the members of the chair may be moved from one positioninto another one. Whenthe'locking knob 32! is tightened, the clip 230 'is tightened on the guiding rod 282 whereby the latter and the movable members of the chair are'held in their position. Of course, any other suitable locking device may be used for locking the movable members of the chair ina predetermined position, if desired.

The adjustable reclining chair shown in Fig. comprises a support 320 including side walls 3-22 connected witheach other by

cross-bars

300 and 324.

The top'lin'k generally indicated by 362 comprises a solid :front portion 33!, a hollow intermediate portion 333 and a solid rear portion 335. As-best :shown in -Figs. .5 and 7, the intermediate portion 333 is rigidly connected with the front portion and the rear =portion335'by screws 33! or the like. The intermediate portion 333 has a sIot 312 tor the passageof-aconnecting link333 swingably mounted-on'the support 320' at396'. A slider or sliding block 333 rigidlysecured to the upper end :portion of the guiding link 330 by means of screws 33 is slidably engaged with a guiding surface 34! formed by a portion ofthe inner su-rface of the hollow intermediate portion 333- 03 the top link 362.

The :rear' portion 335 of the top link 362 is pivoted to intermediate-point of the'b'ack-res't 336 at 383. The lower end portionof the backrest 33 6 is pivoted to the'rear portion of the seati334 at 352. The front portion of theseat 334 is-pivoted at fififi'to the lower portion of the front link "330, the :upper portion of which "is pivotedto the front portion :331- :of theitop link 352 at 364:. Thus, the pivotally interconnected back-rest 338, seat "344, front link 3'80 and :top link 3.82-forma four-sidedlinkesystem of a polygonaI linkage including the guiding link l33mand thesliding pair .341, 333. The seat 34 4 being a member of said four-sided link-systemis pivotett at 3'43sto the supportat-azpoint spaced from the'pivotaliconnection 352 between: the-'ba'ckerest 335 and the seat. 344 and, furthermore, spaced from the pivotal connection. 356' between "the support 320 and the guiding link 330. The linkage of the chair shown inJFig. 4 is permanently :constrained.

011 each side of theschair, the front link 360' tormsanupwardi extension of a leg-rest 354-. Ofcourse, if :desiredsthe'leg-rest354 could be made of a separate piece of matenialisrigidlyconnected withthe front links .360 in any-desired manner.

The sitting position of the movable members of the-chair shown ,tull lines is limited: by the top link 352 with the back-rest 336.

cross-bar 300 on which the seat 344 comes to a rest. The extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dash-anddot lines is limited by an abutment of the surface 345 of the front portion 33! of the top link 362 against the slider 333.

The movable members of the chair may be held in any desired position, for example, in the extreme reclined position or in any other intermediate position by means of a locking device generally indicated by 34! and arranged on the pivot 383 connecting the rear portion 335 of the As best shown in Figs. .4, 5, 6, said locking device 341 comprises a handle 349 screwed on the threaded end of the pivot 388. Said pivot 388 has a head .35 resting against the surface of the back-rest 336. A square portion 333 of the pivot 388 is inserted into a corresponding square aperture of the back-rest 336, whereby the pivot 383 is prevented :from rotation when the locking handle'i349 is "turned. When the user of the chair loosens the iocking handle. 3 43', the surf aceof the hub -3 of said handle is disengaged fromthe surface of the rear portion 335 of the toplink 362', 'so that the movable members of the chair may-be freely moved fromone position into another one. When the locking handle 349 is tightened, thesurface of the hub-of the'handle'is pressedragainst the rear portion 335 or the top link 3B2, whereby the latter is pressed against the back-rest 33-6 engaged with the head 35lact the pivot 388, so that the members of the-chair are held in their position. Of course, any-other type of locking device may be used instead of said locking device 341, if desired.

According to the embodiment of an'adjustable reclining chair shown in Fig. 8, the support 420 comprises the sidewalls 424 connected with each-other'by cross-bars Mil-and 424.

The top link generally indicated by 462 :comprises a main portion 45'! :and an extension 453 integral with-each .other. Said extension 453 includes a hollow portion, wherein the guiding rod- 482 is mounted. A hook-like member 46! having a threaded upper end is screwed into a threadedbore of said guiding rod 482.

The rear end of the main portion 451 ofv the topzlinkis pivoted to anintermediate-point of the back-rest 436 air-488. The lower'end-of the backrest 436 is pivoted totherear portionof the seat 444 .at 2452. The front portionof the seat 444 is pivoted to the lower end portion of the front link Na-1:456. The upper endportion of said iront linkASlJr-isswingably mounted on the end 46301 the hook-like member 43lin-a plane somewhat below the plane of the longitudinal axis .of the top link-462. The lower end portion of the guiding linklflfl being. in the shape-of a clip isswingably mounted on the support-420 at 436. The upper "end :portion 493 of the guiding link 490 embracing the guiding rod 432 is slidably engaged withsaid guiding rod 482 arranged in the forward extension 459 of the top link 4B2 projecting beyond the pivotal connection- 463 between the frontlink 460 and the 1toplink-462. The polygonal linkage of the chair comprises the four-sided link-

system

436, 444, 460,. 452 swingablymounted-on the support-42D at 452,the guiding-link 430 and the sliding pair 493, 482'.

The movable members of the chair may .be held'inany desired position by :meansof a looking device generally indicated by 42! and-arrangedzonthepivot 49 3.

The sitting position-of the movable members 5 of the chair shown in full lines is limited by the cross-bar 400 on which the seat 444 comes to a rest, and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair shown in dashand-dot lines is limited by an abutment of the set-collar 418 against the guiding link 490.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, and that various omissions, orchanges in shape, proportion, and arrangement of parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for the elements shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

For example, theguiding rod slidably engaged with the slider mounted on the guiding link must not necessarily be arranged within a hollow portion of the top link; the guiding rod could also be arranged outside the top link proper.

Furthermore, the guiding rod may be omitted entirely, and the slider may embrace a guiding surface of the body of the top link proper.

Moreover, the invention may be applied to other articles of furniture than the type of chairs shown in the drawings, for example, to ofiice chairs, chairs for use in railroad cars, chairs for use in airplanes, loungets, etc.

What I claim is:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a rigid support, a permanently constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest-member, a guiding link, a top link and a front link, said front link being pivoted at a first point to the front end portion of said seat-member land being pivoted at a second point, spaced from said first point, to the front end portion of said top link, the rear end portion of said top link being pivoted to said back-rest-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-restand seat-members with said support, one end portion of said guiding link pivoted to said support, and an elongated slidable connection between the other end portion of said guiding link and said top link.

2. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said slidable connection including guiding means arranged on said top link, and an elongated slider mounted at said other end portion of said guiding link and slidably engaged with said guiding means.

3. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, at least a portion of said top link being hollow and having a slot, said slidable connection including guiding means arranged within said hollow portion of the top link, and an elongated slider mounted at said other end portion of said guiding link and slidably engaged with said guiding means, and said other end portion of the guiding link passing through said slot into said hollow portion of the top link.

4. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said slidable connection including a guiding surface arranged on said top link, and an elongated slider mounted at said other end portion of said guiding link and slidably engaged with said guiding surface.

5. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1,

, at least a portion of said top link being hollow and having a slot, said slidable connection including a guiding surface arranged within said hollow portion of the top link, and an elongated slider mounted at said other end portion of said guiding link and slidably engaged with said guiding surface and said other end portion of the guiding link passing through said slot into said hollow portion of the top link.

6. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said slidable connection including guiding means arranged on said top link, and an elongated slider mounted at said other end portion of said guiding link and slidably engaged with said guiding means, and stop means mounted on said top link for cooperation with said slider so as to limit at least one extreme position of the movable links of the constrained linkage.

7. In combination with an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, a leg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat, and a member of said constrained linkage being operatively connected with said leg rest for controlling the movements of the latter.

8. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a rigid support, a permanently constrained linkage having stationary link means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest-member, a guiding link, a top link and a front link, said back-rest-member being in pivoted connection with the rear end portion of said seat-member, said front link being pivoted at a first point to the front end portion of said seat-member and being pivoted at a second point, spaced from said first point, to the front end portion of said top link, the rear end portion of said top link being pivoted to said back-rest-member at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the back-rest-member and the seat-member, at least one of said back-restand seatmembers being pivotally connected with said support, one end portion of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, and an elongated idable connection between the other end portion of said guiding link and said top link.

9. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 8, said seat-member being pivoted to said support at a point being spaced from the pivotal connection between said seat-member and said back-rest member.

10. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a rigid support, a permanently constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest member, a guiding link, a top link and a front link, said front link being pivoted at a first point to the front end portion of said seat-member and being pivoted at a second point, spaced from said first point, to said top link, the rear end portion of said top link being pivoted to said back-rest member, and means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-restand seat-:members with said support, said top link having a forward extension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the front link, one end of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, and the other end of said guiding link being shiftably engaged with said forward extension of the'top link.

11. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a rigid support, a permanently constrained linkage= haying-stationary Link-means (and; -apinmlrof 'mova-ble links sa-id stationany link-means being included said support, said movable links: including aseat-membemaabaolvrest memhes, ag uiding flinlg, atop 'link a front link, a guiding rod rigid with saidtop-linig said front 1ink=being pivoted. at a first anoint to said-seatmember and! being pivoted at a second point, spaced irom'said first point, RI-i118 front end poittion o-flsaid top link, themear end portion of saidton link being pivotedato: said -back=rest mom-hen, meansspivotal-lyieonnecting-at. least one of said bank-rest and; seat-members with said support, one-end. of. said guiding being pivoted to said support, and .1as1ider -mountedon the otlaer zenrlz of said guiding link: anei-=slic1ab1y engaged with saidiguiding-z zrod- 1:2..An anticle of repose for supporting thev body of: =a.;person,, mmprising in; combination; a rigid support, a. ipemnanently '"c'onstrainedi link;- age having stationary link-means: and :a. plurality movable -links, said stationary link-means being inludei in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest member, a guiding link, a top link and a front link a guiding rod rigid withsaicl-toplinm/said trout-link being" pivoted at "a first point to said seat member and being pivoted at a second point, spaced from-said first point, to said 'ginding rod,. the r.ear end portion. of said top link being pivoted to; said back-rest- -member means pivotally connecting at least one; of said backrestand seat-members with said: support, one endv of said guiding link being. pivoted to said support, anda slider mounted onthe other end of :said guiding link and slidably engaged with said guiding rode V v References Cited in the file "it this patent UNITED STATES JEMJIE-HIZS. Number Name I Date 4 '2,l'73',283- Lorenz Sept. 119-, i939 2 470,!81 Lorenz May as, 1949 2,571,463 Lorenz Oct. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Nurnber' Country Date 421,103 France Oct. -5, 1910 513,709 Great-Britain -a 01713.19, 15939