US2918112A

US2918112A - Reclining chairs

Info

Publication number: US2918112A
Application number: US672286A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fridtjof F Schliephacke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-07-16
Filing date: 1957-07-16
Publication date: 1959-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-22

Description

ea. 22, 1959 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,918,112

RECLINING CHAIRS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1957 INVENTOR. FRI DTJOF F. SCHLIEPHACKE ATTORNEY.

1959 F. F. CHLlEPHACKE 2,918,112

RECLINING CHAIRS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1957 INVENTOR. FRIDTJOF F. SCHLIEPHACKE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 22, 1959 Filed July 16, 1957 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE RECLINING CHAIRS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FRIDTJOF F. SCHLIEPHACKE NEY.

Dec. 22, 1959 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,918,112

RECLINING CHAIRS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 l Filed July 16, 1957 INVENTOR. FRIDTJOF F SCHLIEPHACKE Dec. 22, 1959 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,913,112

RECLINING CHAIRS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 16, 1957 INVENTOR. FRIDTJOF F. SCHLIEPHACKE #5.; ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 F. F. SCH'LIEPHACKE 2,918,112

RECLINING .CHAIRS I Filed July 16, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. FRI DTJOF E SCHLIEPHACKE A TTORNE K RECLINING CHAlRS Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargenderf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Application July 16, 1957, Serial No. 672,286

3 Claims. (Cl. 155106) This invention relates to chairs and pertains particularly to reclining chairs having a backrest, a seat, and a leg rest, all supported on a base frame and movable with respect to said base frame and with respect to each other to assume a reclining position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reclining chair in which the backrest, seat and leg rest, when moved to reclining position, support the body of the occupant in a relaxed comfortable position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a construction in which the operative connections between the parts of the chair are such as to permit a compact arrangement of parts adapted to conform to modern styling having a light, graceful appearance.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a construction in which, in the upright position of the chair, the leg rest is located beneath the seat and is substantially concealed from view, and in which, in the reclining position of the chair, the leg rest is swung downwardly, forwardly and upwardly to a position in advance of the seat.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a side elevation of the chair, one side frame being broken away, the chair being shown in upright position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the chair in reclining position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view, one side frame being broken away, the chair being shown in upright position.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of chair, one side frame being broken away, the chair being shown in upright position.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the chair in reclining position.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, one side frame being broken away, the chair being shown in upright position.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the base frame comprises pairs of legs 1, 2 tied together transversely by cross bars 3, a to form a supporting cradle for the side frames 5, 6 which are rigidly secured thereto. The side frames may be rigidly connected by a cross frame 7 and by the tie rod 7'. The legs 1, 2, cross bars 3, 4 and tie rod '7 may conveniently be made of suitable structural metal shapes such as rods or tubing, and the side frames 5, 6 and cross frame 7 may conveniently be made of wood or metal, upholstered or not, as desired. The cradle and side frames together form a base frame unit supporting the movable parts of the chair as hereinafter described.

The movable parts of the chair include a backrest 8, a seat 9, and a leg rest 10. Each of these movable parts may be of any desired type of standard construction, upholstered, or not, as desired. As shown, each of these movable parts is an upholstered type, in which the upholstery is mounted on a suitable supporting frame. In the following description, the operative connections between the movable parts will be described with respect to only one side of the chair, it being understood that said parts are duplicated on the other side of the chair.

The backrest 8 is pivotally mounted on the side frames 5, 6 by means of a pivot pin 11 mounted in the backrest side frame 12 and extending into socket 13 in the side frame. Also rigidly mounted on the backrest side frame 12 is a bar 14 which extends downwardly from the pin 11 for pivotal connection to the free end of bar 15 by means of pivot pin 16. Bar 15 is rigidly mounted on seat frame 17 and extends rearwardly therefrom for connection to pivot pin 16, thereby supporting the seat. As the backrest swings backwardly to reclining position, the bar 15 moves the seat forwardly slightly.

The leg rest 10 is supported to swing on the front end of the seat 9 as hereinafter described, and means are provided for actuating the leg rest from the backrest so that as the backrest swings backwardly to reclining position, the leg rest is moved to leg supporting position. Means are also provided for actuating the seat from the backrest, so that as the backrest swings backwardly, the level of the seat is raised slightly, and at the same time its angle of slope toward the rear is increased slightly.

Thus, the bar 14 is extended downwardly below the pivot pin 16 to receive a pivot pin 22, pivotally connected to one end of link 23, the other end of which is pivotally connected by pivot pin 24 to one arm of bell crank 25, pivotally mounted on the side frame by pivot pin 26. The outer end of this arm of the bell crank 25 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 27 to one end of a link 28.

Link 28, which may be referred to as the leg rest actuating link, is pivotally connected at its other end by pivot pin'29 to one arm of hell crank 30 which is pivotally mounted on the front end of seat 9 by pivot pin 31. The other arm of the bell crank 30 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 32 to one end of link 33, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the leg rest 10 by pivot pin 34.

One end of link 35 is also pivotally connected to the front end of seat 9 by pivot pin 36, and the other end of said link is pivotally connected by pivot pin 37 to one end of link 38. The other end of link 38 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 39 to the leg rest 16, and an intermediate point of said link is pivotally connected by pivot pin 40 to the arm of bell crank 30 which is connected to link 33. Thus, when the bell crank 25 is rocked on its pivot and the link 28 is moved from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2, the bell crank 30 is actuated to swing the leg rest downwardly, forwardly and upwardly to a position in advance of the seat, as shown in Fig. 2.

The other arm of hell crank 25 is pivotally connected to guide link 18 by pivot pin 19, and said guide link, in turn, is pivotally connected to the seat 9 by pivot pin 20.

In the upright position of the chair, as illustrated i Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the backrest is tilted slightly backwardly from a vertical position, and the seat slopes slightly downwardly from front to back in order to pro: vide a comfortable seated posture for the occupant. In

this position, the leg rest is located beneath the seat, and is almost entirely concealed from view. In the reclining position of the chair, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the backrest is tilted backwardly, as shown, and the seat is moved forwardly and upwardly while the angle of slope is increased slightly. At the same time, the leg rest has been swung downwardly, forwardly and upwardly to a position to support the legs of the occupant.

The shift from upright to reclining position may be brought about whenever one sitting in the chair in its upright position exerts backward pressure against the backrest by shifting the weight of the body or by pressing forwardly against the side frames of the base unit or both. As the backrest swings backwardly on the fixed pivot 11, levers 14 and 15 move the seat forward slightly, while at the same time lever 14, acting through link 23, rocks bell crank 25 forwardly. This has two results. First, it actuates the leg rest actuating link 28 to actuate the leg rest as previously described. Second, acting through the guide link 18 it raises the level of the seat 9 and increases its angle of slope.

If now, it is desired to resume upright position, it is only necessary to exert slight downward pressure on the leg rest, accompanied, if desired, by pressing backwardly against the side frames to relieve the backward pressure of the body against the backrest. As the upright position is resumed, the weight of the occupant, acting through link 18, assists in restoring the leg rest to its original position and in holding the leg rest in fully retracted position.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 4, and 6, the backrest 108 is again pivotally mounted on the side frames 105, 106 by means of pivot pin 111 mounted on the backrest side frame 112 and extending into a socket 113 in the side frame. Rigidly mounted on the backrest side frame 112 is a bar 114 which extends downwardly from the pin 111 for pivotal connection to the free end of bar 115 by means of pivot pin 116. Bar 115 is rigidly mounted on seat frame 117 and extends rearwardly therefrom for connection to pivot pin 116, thereby supporting the seat. As the backrest swings backwardly to reclining position, the bar moves the seat forwardly slightly.

The bar 114 also extends upwardly from the pin 111 and is pivotally connected by pivot pin 142 to a link 143, which, in turn is pivotally connected by pivot pin 144 to a lever 145. Lever 145 is pivotally connected to bar by pivot pin 146. The lower end of said lever is pivotally connected by pivot pin 122 to one end of link 123, the other end of which is pivotally connected by pivot pin 124 to one arm of bell crank, here in the form of a triangular plate 125, pivotally mounted on the side frame by pivot pin 126. The outer end of this arm of the bell crank is pivotally connected by pivot pin 127 to one end of link 128.

Link 128 is pivotally connected at its other end by pivot pin 129 to one arm of a bell crank 130 which is pivotally mounted on the front end of seat 109 by pivot pin 131. The other arm of the bell crank 130 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 132 to one end of link 133, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the leg rest 110 by pivot pin 134. One end of link 135 is also pivotally connected to the front end of seat 109 by pivot pin 136, and the other end of said link is pivotally connected by pivot pin 137 to one end of, link 138. The other end of link 138 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 139 to the leg rest 110, and an intermediate point of said link is pivotally connected by pivot pin 140 to link 133. Thus, when the bell crank 125 is rocked on its pivot and the link 128 is moved from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5, the bell crank 130 is actuated to swing the leg rest downwardly, forwardly and upwardly to a position in advance of the seat as shown in Fig. 5.

The other arm of bell crank 125 is pivotally connected to guide link 118 by pivot pin 119, and said guide link, in turn, is pivotally connected to the seat 109 by pivot pin 120.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A reclining chair comprising a base unit having opposed, spaced side frames, a backrest located between said side frames and pivotally mounted on said side frames, a seat located between said side frames, a bar rigidly connected to said seat extending rearwardly therefrom and pivotally connected to said backrest at a point below the point where said backrest is mounted on said side frames, whereby said seat is moved forwardly when said backrest is tilted backwardly on said side frames, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said side frame, means operatively connected to said bell crank to said backrest to actuate said bell crank when said backrest is tilted backwardly on said side frame, said means comprising a link pivotally connected to said bell crank, a lever pivotally connected to said link and pivotally connected to said bar, and a second link pivotally connected to said lever and pivotally connected to said backrest, a leg rest, a link and lever system operatively connecting said leg rest to the forward end of the seat for swinging movement thereon, said leg rest being normally located beneath said seat between said side frames, means operatively connecting said bell crank to said link and lever system to swing said leg rest downwardly, forwardly and upwardly when said bell crank is actuated, and a link connected to said bell crank and to said seat to lift said seat when said bell crank is operated.

2. A reclining chair comprising a base unit having opposed, spaced side frames, a backrest located between said side frames and pivotally mounted on said side frames, a seat located between said side frames, at bar rigidly connected to said seat extending rearwardly therefrom and pivotally connected to said backrest at a point below the point where said backrest is mounted on said side frames, whereby said seat is moved forwardly when said backrest is tilted backwardly on said side frames, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said side frame, means operatively connecting said bell crank to said back rest to actuate said bell crank when said backrest is tilted backwardly on said side frame, a leg rest, a link and lever system operatively connecting said leg rest to the forward end of the seat for swinging movement thereon, said leg rest being normally located beneath said seat between said side frames, means operatively connecting said bell crank to said link and lever system to swing said leg rest downwardly, forwardly and upwardly when said bell crank is actuated, said means including a second bell crank pivotally mounted on said seat, a link connecting said first and second bell cranks, and a link connecting said second bell crank to said leg rest, and a link connected to said first bell crank and to said seat to lift said seat when said bell crank is operated.

3. A reclining chair comprising a base unit having opposed, spaced side frames, a backrest located between said side frames and pivotally mounted on said side frames, a seat located between said side frames, a bar rigidly connected to said seat extending rearwardly therefrom and pivotally connected to said backrest at a point below the point where said backrest is mounted on said side frames, whereby said seat is moved forwardly when said backrest is tilted backwardly on said side frames, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said side frame, means operatively connecting said bell crank to said backrest to actuate said bell crank when said backrest is tilted backwardly on said side frame, a leg rest, a link and lever system operatively connecting said leg rest to the forward end of the seat for swinging movement thereon, said leg rest being normally located beneath said seat between said side frames, means operatively connecting said bell crank to said link and lever system to swing said leg rest downwardly, forwardly and upwardly when said bell crank is actuated, said means comprising a second bell crank pivotally mounted on said seat, a link connecting said first and second bell cranks, a link connecting said second bell crank to said leg rest, and a pair of pivotally connected links, one of which is pivotally connected to said seat and the other of which is pivotally connected to said leg rest, one of said links being pivotally connected to said second bell crank, and a link connected to said first bell crank and to 6 said seat to lift said seat when said bell crank is operated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,418 Dujardin Sept. 23, 1930 2,660,225 Luckhardt Nov. 24, 1953 2,849,052 Schliephacke Aug. 26, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,394 Germany Feb. 22, 1905