US2871919A

US2871919A - Seating unit having adjustable leg rest

Info

Publication number: US2871919A
Application number: US620420A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fridtjof F Schliephacke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-11-05
Filing date: 1956-11-05
Publication date: 1959-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-03

Description

Feb. 3, 195 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2, 7

' v SEATING UNIT HAVING ADJUSTABLE LEG REST Filed Nov. 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INYENTOR. F G FRIDTJOF F. SCHLIEPHACKE.

BY M 11% AT'roRNEYs Feb. 3, 1959 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,8

SEATING UNIT HAVING ADJUSTABLE LEG REST Filed Nov. 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGA I INVENTOR. 2 FRIDTJQF F- SCHLIEPHACKE MMWMZ A'TTORNEY'S United States Patent 2,871,919 SEATTNG UNIT HAVING ADJUSTABLE LEG REST Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Greenwich, Conn.

Application November 5, 1956, Serial No. 620,420

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to reclining seating units, particularly chairs having a leg rest which is movable to a projected position when the chair is inclined and which is retracted when the chair is in upright position.

The invention is particularly applicable to reclining articles of furniture in which there is a back rest pivoted to a stationary frame and a seat pivoted to the back rest, including constructions in which the seat is pivoted to the back rest, at a point above the pivotal axis of the back rest. It is also applicable to seating units in which the back rest and seat are rigidly connected together but may be tilted to a more or less reclining position as a unit. The objects of the inventionvare to provide improvements in leg rest supporting and operating linkages applicable to reclining articles of furniture of the above and similar types.

A feature of the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated is that the longer links which transmit motion from the back rest and seat to the leg rest are pull links, that is, they are subject to tension stresses in moving the leg rest to its projected position and supporting it in such position when the legs are resting thereon. These links are therefore not subject to buckling when the maximum stresses are applied thereto.

In the accompanying drawings which show certain preferred embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair in reclining position with the leg rest projected;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the chair shown in Figure 1 with the seating elements in upright position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction of linkage;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the chairs shown in Fig. 3 with the parts in reclining position;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a form of chair having a unitary back resting and seating member in upright position; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a chair shown in Fig. 5 with the seating elements tilted and the leg rest extended.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs, 1 and 2 the chair comprises a stationary frame having legs 22 connected by side frame members 24 and arms 26. A back rest 28 is pivoted to the frame near its lower end at points 30. The seat 32 is pivoted to the back rest at points 34 which are higher than the pivotal axis of the back rest so that when the back rest is tilted back the seat moves back a little way with it. The seat is also tilted up toward the front, it being mounted for this purpose on the upper ends of seat guide links 36 which are pivoted to the seat at points 38 and which are at their lower ends pivoted at points. 40 to guide members or plates 42 which are pivoted to the frame at points 44. Pull links 46 are pivoted at their front ends at 49 to guidemembers or plates 42 and at their rear ends to the back rest at points 48 which are above the points at which the back rest is pivoted to the frame. The points 48 could be made to 2,871,919 Patented Feb. 3, 19.59

ice

' coincide with the points 34 but this is not necessary. and

' to the leg rest nearer to the rear edge thereof than are the links 52 The links 54 are longer than the links 52 and are pivoted at their free ends at points 56 to connecting links 58 which are pivoted to the seat at points ,60. Pivoted to the seat at points 62 are operating levers 64, the outer ends of which are pivoted at 66 to the ends of links 52. The operating levers 64 cross the links 54 and are pivoted thereto at the crossing points 68. The operating levers. 64 have short arms 70 projecting beyond the pivots 62 and these short arms are connected to the guide members or plates 42 by pull links 72 which are. pivoted to the lever arms 70 at 74 and to the plates or guide members 42 at points 76.

In the construction shown it will be seen that when the back rest 28 is tilted back it will pull on links 46 which will swing the plates 42 about the pivots 44, thereby lifting the front part of the seat. The swinging of the plates or guide members 42 will also pull on the links .72 which will swing the leg rest operating levers 64 about their pivots and cause the linkage to raise and project the leg rest. The location of pivots 62 and the length of the short arms 70 is preferably such that the ends of these arms do not at any time project above the seating surface. The parts of the leg rest operating levers 64 between the pivot points 68 and the pivot points 62 are preferably given a concave curvature downward. as shown at so as to be more out of the way when the leg rest is projected.

Figures 3 and 4 show another form of the invention in which the frame 20, back rest 28, and seat 32 are of the construction described above. In this instance the seat guide links 36a are pivoted at their lower ends at 40a directly to the frame members and serve to tilt the seat when the latter is drawn back by the backward swinging of the back rest. Guide levers 42a are pivoted at their lower ends to the frame members, conveniently but not necessarily at points 40a, and pivoted to these guide levers at points 49a between their ends are pull links 46a which are pivoted to the back rest at points 48. The upper ends of guide levers 42a are pivoted at points 76a to pull links 72a which are pivoted at points 74 to leg rest operating links 64, the leg rest linkage shown being the same as in the construction previously described.

Figures 5 and 6 show another modification of the invention as applied to a chair having the back rest 28b and seat 32b formed as a rigid unit. This seating unit is mounted for tilting movement on a fixed frame or base 20b by means of rear seat guide links and front seat guide links 36b which are pivoted at their lower ends to the frame at

points

102 and 40b respectively. The leg rest 50 is supported on linkage which is shown as the same as that illustrated and described in connection with the, previous figures, including leg rest operating levers 64 pivoted to the seat at 62, and having short arms 70. These are pivoted at 74 to pull links 72b, the

lower ends of which are pivoted at points 76b to the upper ends of guide levers 42b which are pivoted to the frame at points 40b. Points 40b may coincide with the points at which the front seat guide links 36b are pivoted to the frame, but this is not essential. Pull links 46b are pivoted at their front ends to intermediate points 4% of the levers 4222, the rear ends of the links 46b being pivoted to the seat at points 48b. The points 48b may coincide with the points where the upper ends of the rear seat guide links 100 are pivoted to the seat, but this is not essential. When the seating unit is tilted on the seat guide links to the position as shown in Figure 6, tension will be placed on the links 46b which will move the guide levers 42b rearward, and in turn put tension on the links 72b, which will project the leg rest, as in the previous constructions. 1

It is understood that certain. parts, elementsor mechanisms shown in one figure may be substituted for corresponding parts, elements or mechanisms of. the embodiments shown in other figures. of. the. drawings.

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 or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitutionof equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departring from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a reclining article of furniture having a stationary frame, body supporting members comprising a seat and back rest and means for mounting said body supporting members on said frame permitting backward tilting movement thereof with respect to said frame, said means for mounting said body supporting members including at least one seat guide link pivoted at one end to the seat and at the other end to the frame a guide member pivoted near its lower end on the frame, a pull link pivoted to the guide member above the pivotal point of the guide member on the frame and to a body supporting member having backward movement when the body supporting members are tilted toward a reclining position, a leg rest and means for connecting said leg rest and said seat permitting movement of said leg rest from a retracted position when the seat and back rest are tilted, said means comprising a system of linkage including two links pivoted to said leg rest at spaced locations of the width thereof from front to rear, said system also including a two-armed operating lever pivoted between its arms to said seat, said arms extending in opposite directions from said pivot, one of said arms being longer than the other, the longer arm of said operating lever being pivoted to the end of one of said links pivoted to said leg rest, said arm crossing the other link pivoted to said leg rest and being pivoted thereto at the point of said crossing, a connecting link pivoted to the end of said other link in rear of said crossing point and pivoted at the other end to a movable part of the structure, and a pull link connected at one end to the shorter arm of said operating lever and at the other end to said guide member.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the back rest is pivoted to the frame near its lower end and in which the seat is pivoted to the back rest at a point above the pivotal axis of the back rest, the back rest being connected to the guide member by a pull link which is pivoted to the back rest at a point above the pivotal axis of the back rest and to the guide member at a point above the pivotal axis of the guide member.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the body supporting member comprises a seat and back rest formed as a unit and mounted on front and rear seat guide links pivoted at their upper ends to the seat and at their lower ends to the frame, the front seat guide links being longer than the rear seat guide links, the link connecting the guide member to the body support-member being pivoted at its forward end to the guide member above the axis Where the latter is pivoted to the frame, said link being pivoted at its rear end to the body supporting member.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the pull link connecting the guide member and the body supporting member is pivoted to the guide member between the ends thereof, the pull link connecting the shorter arm of the operating lever and the guide member being pivoted to the guide member at a point above the pivotal point of said first-mentioned pull link to the guide member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,660,225 Luckhardt Nov. 24, 1953 2,781,824 Lorenz Feb. 19, 1957 2,782,836 Krakauer Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,394 Germany Feb. 22, 1905 166,239 Australia Dec. 6, 1955