US2659415A

US2659415A - Reclining chair with coordinated leg rest

Info

Publication number: US2659415A
Application number: US330698A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude A Hughes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-01-12
Filing date: 1953-01-12
Publication date: 1953-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1970-11-17

Description

Nov. 17, 1953 c. A. HUGHES 2,659,415 RECLINI-NG CHAIR w Filed Jan. l2, 1953 1TH cooRDINATEb LEG REST 3 'sheets-sheet 1 FIG. I.

v Fle 7 1 FL@ INVENTOR" (LAUDE lA. HUGHES y gmx/4@ .4

` 'JQQITORNEYS Nov. 17, 1953 'c. A. HUGHES RECLINING CHAIR WITH COORDINATEDKLEG REST s sham-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 195:5

I /h 62 Muuuufunuum INVENTOR CLAUDE A.` HUGHES BW TTORNEYS Nov. 17,1953 c. A. HUGHES RECLININGCHAIR WIT l 2,659,415 H COORDINATE'D LEG REST ls sheets-sheet s Filed Jan. l2, 1953 INVENTOR CLAUDE A. H UGHES ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UN I'TED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECLINING CHAIR WITH CQORDINATED LEG REST This invention relates to reclining'chairs and more particularly to reclining chairs of the type having a leg rest member which Vmovesf-in cotionwith such a chair is the provision of av leg rest member Vwhich is normally maintained ini aninoperatwe position when the movableA chair seatv or back 1s in anormal sitting position,` butV which may be swung upwardly to serve its lleg rest function in coordination with movements members into reclining position.

that the linkage system coordinating movements of the seat, back and leg rest in such a chair be simple in structure and easilyl operated. It is also necessary to provide a lock-A ing arrangement. .which permits locking or 'the pivotally mounted seat or backand the attached leg rest in any desired position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a reclining chair in-which movements ofthe seat or back are communicated to a leg rest member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide anv improved arrangement for communi asupporting structure. and a leg rest member pivotally connected to the front portion of the seat, with a linkage system connected between the seat-back structure and the leg rest to communicate motions of the seat-back to the leg is pivotally connected toof its fends' to alinkfwhich connectsfit to ank intermediate portion ofthe levermember, .and a link connectingthefleg :rest membentoan outer portion of the lever member.` An important feature of my invention isV the provision` of a locking means which cooperates with.;the1con.- necting member to permit locking. .of` .the .seatback structure and .the pivotally r connected leg' rest in any desired position.

The features of this'invention which I believe tobe novel are. set -forth withsparticularityin the appended claims. My .inventionit'seli how ever, both as.toitszorganizationlan-d. use, to getheri with. further objects i and .f advantages thereof, may be. best. understood .by reference to the following description, l.takenin .connection with the accompanying drawings -inifwhichl Fig. 1 is a-.si'de elevation;partiallycutaway, of a reclining chairfin'accordance'lwith mypinvention;

Fig. 2.is a lplan-view offthechainof -Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged -fragmentaryviewtalren along vertical section line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig..4 is ani enlarged fragmentaryview taken along vertical section'line V14-4 ofi-Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is Aa graphicalv representation of. the linkage system'betweenthepivoted seat andthe pivoted leg rest :when .the/chair 'islin normal sitting position;

Fig.k 6 is a graphical representation foi :the posi.; tion of thelinkage `systeminterconnecting:the seat andthe legfrestrwhenfthe chairxis incre-` clining position; r

Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of the locking mech.'-`

anism taken along section' line 'l-l of. Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 isaview lof a-portionfof the..locking arrangement 'taken along vsection 'line .8-8 of Fig..7; and

Fig. 9 is a viewofva portion. of thelocki'ng arrangement taken along sectionV lineI9-9of Fig. 7.l

Referring nowv to the drawings; andvmore particularly to Figs.r 1 'and 2, I have illustrated my invention 'as emb'od1ed in'areclining cha-ir hav ing `a movableV unitary seat-backstructure, gen'- erally indicated'at lLUcomprising a seat fram-e portion rl2 which is rigidly connected to aback The seat-back structure' I9 is supported for movement about a horizontal' axis rear verticallyeextending *framel members'or 'legs 28 on either side of the chair. Legs I8 are joined at their lower end at the front portion of the chair by a cross piece member 22 and legs 28 at the rear of the chair are joined at their lower end by a cross piece member 24. A brace member 26 is positioned intermediate of the width of the chair at the bottom thereof and extends from the cross piece member 24 at the rear of the chair to cross piece member 22 at the front of the chair. A rigid side wall portion 28 extends for at least part of the height of the chair between the front leg I8 and the rear leg 20 on each side of the chair.

It will be seen, therefore, that the stationary or supporting arms I6, legs I8 and 28,

frame members

22, 24, 26, and the side wall portions 28.

The unitary seat-back structure is pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis by means of a pivotal connection I I of the length of the seat portion. As a support for the pivotal connection, a support member 30 may be rigidly attached to the inner surface of wall portion 28 on each of the opposite sides of the chair, substantially centrally located with respect to the length of the chair. A metal bracket member 32, best shown in Fig. 4, is rigidly attached to the side edge of the seat frame I2, bracket member 32 extending below the bottom surface of the seat frame. A suitable pivot pin II passes through the lower portion of the bracket 32 and through a bracket member 36 which is rigidly fixed to the support member 30. A similar pivotal connection is provided on each of the opposite sides of the chair, and due to these pivotal connections the unitary seat-back structure I8 may be pivoted with respect to the stationary frame structure about the pivot pins II. I have shown the arrangement just described as an operative embodiment of my structure but obviously other pivotal connections between the unitary seat-back and the support could be provided.

A leg rest 38 is pivotally connected to the seat at the front portion thereof by any suitable means, such as metal bands 48 which are rigidly connected to the side edges of the leg rest and which are pivotally connected to the side edges of the seat frame I2 at 42. A spring member 44 which normally biases the chair in the sitting position is connected between the under portion of the seat I2 adjacent the front thereof and the inner surface of wall 28 at one side of the chair.

In order to communicate to the leg rest member 38 motion of the seat-back structure about its pivotal connection with respect to the supporting framework of the chair, a linkage system is used which will now be described. The linkage system connecting the seat and the leg rest comprises a lever member 46 which is pivotally connected at point 41 to the intermediate cross piece member 26 which extends from the front to the rear of the chair. A connecting member 48 is pivotally attached at 5I to a bracket member 52 which is rigidly connected to the seat structure. The opposite end of connecting member 48 is pivotally connected at 56 to a link 50 which, in turn, is pivotally connected at 58 to an intermediate portion of lever 46. A link 68 com-4 municates motions of lever 46 to leg rest 38, link 68 being pivotally connected at 62 to the outer; end of lever 46 and at 64 to a bracket member 65 which is rigidly attached to leg rest 38.

i An important feature of my invention is the framework of the chair comprises intermediate attached to connecting member 48,

manner in which connecting member 48 cooperates with a locking means to permit locking oi' the movable chair members in any desired angular position. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, connecting member 48 is slotted along a portion of its length to permit passage through the member of a locking means generally indicated at 66 which will be described hereinafter in more detail. The locking mechanism may be operated to lock the linkage in any given position but when the locking mechanism is released, as will be later described, the connecting member 48 is movable in a path which is constrained by the presence of the locking member.

There are diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, the positions of the seat member I2, the leg rest 38, and the interconnecting linkage between these members in both the normal sitting position of the chair and the reclining position of the chair. The diagrammatic representation of Fig. 5 corresponds to the position of the linkage as shown in Fig. 3. When the seat I2 is moved in a clockwise direction with respect to the views shown in Figs. 5 and 6, about its pivotal connection I I to the stationary framework of the chair, and assuming that the locking mechanism has been released, connecting member 48 moves upwardly along its slotted portion, at the same time moving in a clockwise dlrection. The clockwise motion of member 48 is communicated by link 58 to lever 46, which is caused to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot point 41. The counterclockwise motion of lever 46 causes link member 68 which is connected between the upper end of lever member 46 and the leg rest member 38, to be moved to the left with respect to the views shown in Figs. 5 and 6, causing leg rest member 38 to be pivoted upwardly in a clockwise direction about its pivotal connection 42 to the seat I2. The motion of the seat-back structure is multiplied or amplified in being transmitted to the leg rest due to the fact that the leg rest is connected to the outer portion of lever 46, whereas the link 50, is attached to the intermediate portion of lever 46.

In order to lock the unitary seat-back and connected leg rest in any desired angular position, I have provided in cooperative relation with connecting member 48 a locking mechanism which in general is similar to that disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 293,993, filed June 17, 1952. The locking mechanism is operated by a handle member 10 which passes through a mounting plate 12 which is rigidly attached to the outside surface of one of the side walls 28 of the chair. An operating shaft 14 which is square in cross-section is rigidly attached to handle 18 and passes through a suitable aperture provided in the side wall 28. The opposite end of shaft 'I4 fits into one end of a hollow shaft 16 which passes through a suitable aperture in cross piece or brace member 26. The end of the hollow shaft 18 which receives square shaft 14 is square in crosssection, but the opposite end of hollow shaft 16 is round in cross-section to receive a rod member 18 of round cross-section which is held in a xed position with respect to hollow shaft 16 by a pin member 80. Rod member 18 is provided with a portion which projects outwardly from the end of hollow shaft 16, the outermost end of this outwardly projecting portion being provided with a head member 82, head 82 having shoulders 84 which provide a bearing surface. Starting at the shoulders 84 and extending for a portion of the rin connection maant face of bearing member 88. and theshoulders 84.

of head member 52. A metal `Washerilfmaysbe interposed between shoulders 84 and the surface of link ce.

When handle member 'logis turned to operate shaft ifi, the rotation of shaft 'I4 is communicated to hollow shaft F6, causing shaftliand rod member le to turn. The threads 86 on rod member 'i3 cooperate with the threadson bearing member 88 and cause anV axial shifting `of hollow shaft it, rod member 78 and head 82 'in such'mann'er as to either clamp or unclamp the bearing shoulders 8d of head 82 with respect to member 48. Thus, by turning the handle 'l0 in one direction, the operator may tighten the head 82 against the washer @d and member` 48 in such manner as to clamp the linkage system in xed position. When the handle member is turned in the other direction, the head 82 is unclamped with respect to member d3, and the chair may be adjusted to any desired angular position, after which the locking mechanism is again tightened to clamp the members in position. Due to the fact that operating shaft le is not positively connected to the hollow shaft "i6, shaft 'E6 may have an axial motion with respect to shaft 'i4 Without causing any axial movement of shaft 'I4 or handle 10.

It can be seen from the foregoing that I have provided in accordance with my invention an improved arrangement for reclining chairs having coordinated leg rests. I have provided a linkage for communicating movements of a pivoted seat or back member to a leg rest which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture, and which is characterized by ease and sureness of operation. Furthermore, I have provided an arrangement for locking the movable chair elements in any desired angular position in accordance with which a locking means cooperates with the connecting member which communicates motion of the movable seat or back to the leg rest linkage.

While I have shown and described my linkage arrangement for coordinating motion of the leg restA and for locking the chair elements in position in connection with a reclining chair having a unitary seat-back structure, obviously my linkage and locking arrangement could be used with a chair in which the seat and back are movable relative to each other.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modincations can be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A reclining chair comprising a supporting framework, a chair body member pivotally supported by said framework for movement about a horizontal axis, a leg rest member pivotally supported at the front of said chair, a connecting member pivotally attached to said body member, a lever member pivotally connected to said framework, a first link means joining said connecting member to said lever member, and a second link means joining.saidlevermemberto said leg. rest.

2. Av reclining` chair yas `deined :in yclaim 1 in` vvhichfsaidl second linklmeansis connected to an outerportionof `said-levermember and said first link means is -connected to said `leverat a .point intermediate the pivotal connection ofsaid lever to'said framework y.and the point ofconnection ofsaid .second lin-k` means.

3.A reclining chairwasdeined `in claim-1 havingv engageable with saidf connecting locking means member to lock tion.

said chair body'memberv in Vposi- 4. A-vreclining chair as denedin claim 1r iny which lsaid connecting ymemberis slotted to `receive a locking means.

5.'- A reclining chair as dened Ain claimll comprising means for locking said chair body member in a predetermined angular position, said locking means comprising a bearing member rigidly attached to said supporting framework, said bearing member being internally threaded, a rod member supported for rotation in said bearing member, said rod member being externally threaded to mate with the internal threads of said bearing, handle means for turning said rod member, a locking head rigidly attached to an end of said rod member, said connecting member being slotted longitudinally to receive said rod member, said locking head being disposed adjacent a surface of said connecting member for locking engagement therewith.

6. A reclining chair comprising a supporting framework, a chair body member pivotally supported by said framework for movement about a horizontal axis, a leg rest member pivotally supported at the front of said chair, a connectsaid lever member to said leg rest.

7. A` reclining chair comprising a supporting framework, a seat member pivotally connected for movement about a horiof said seat,

member, and link means connected between an member and said leg rest.

8. A reclining chair as dened in claim 7 having locking means engageable with said connecting member to lock said seat member in position.

9. A reclining chair as ceive said locking means.

10. A reclining chair as dened in claim '7 comprising means for locking said seat 7 member, a locking head rigidly attached to' an end of said rod member. said connecting member being slotted longitudinally to receive said rod member, said locking head being disposed adjacent a surface of said connecting member for locking engagement therewith.

11. A reclining chair comprising a unitary seat-back member, a stationary supporting framework for said seat-back member, said seatback member being pivotally connected to said framework for movement about a horizontal axis, a leg rest member, said leg rest member being pivotally connected to the seat portion ot said seat-back member at the front portion thereof, and means for coordinating the movement of said leg rest with said seat-back member com- CLAUDE A. HUGHES.

References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,470,781 Lorenz May 24, 1949 2,647,559 Richardson Aug. 4, 1953