US2929440A

US2929440A - Leg rest mechanism for reclining articles of furniture

Info

Publication number: US2929440A
Application number: US689729A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fridtjof F Schliephacke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-10-11
Filing date: 1957-10-11
Publication date: 1960-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1977-03-22

Description

March 1960 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,929,440

RTICLES OF FURNITURE use REST MECHANISM FOR RECLiNING A Filed Oct. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY FRIDTJOFF-SCHUEPHACKE ATTORNEYS March 22, 1960 F, F. SCHLIEPHACKE 2,929,440

LEG REST MECHANISM FOR RECLINING ARTICLES 01- FURNITURE Filed Oct. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FR IDTJ OF F-SCHLIEPHACK E ATTORNEYS LEG REST MECHANISM FOR RECLG ARTICLES F FURNET Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Ger= many, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.-

Application October 11, 1957, Serial No. 689,729

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to an article of furniture such as a chair which is adjustable from an upright seating position to a more or less reclining position and which is provided with means for supporting the legs of the occupant when the body supporting elements are moved to the reclining position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a construction in which the body supporting elements may be adjustedin accordance with the wishes of the occupant by changing of the body position, all body supporting parts of the chair being connected in such a manner as to automatically assume relative positions to support the occupant most comfortably in whatever sitting or reclining position he may desire.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide improvements in the leg rest supporting linkage which will cause the leg rest to be advanced into the desired approximately horizontal position when the back rest and seat have been brought to full reclining position and in which the leg rest may be brought towards its horizontal position more rapidly during movement of the back rest and seat to intermediate positions than has been the case with many prior constructions. The position of the leg rest may thus be correlated with the positions of the seat and back rest, so that the legs of the occupant are supported at all times in the most comfortable position to suit the degree to which the body is reclined.

. Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a reclining arm chair, one side wall of the chair frame being omitted to show the construction of the linkage, the parts of the chair being. shown in an upright seating position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construction of Figure 1 showing the parts in a partly reclining position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the full reclining position of the parts.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified construction.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the parts in a reclining position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a modified construction of leg rest linkage, and

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the front part of the construction shown in Fig. 6 in reclining position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in all of the embodiments of the invention illustrated, the article of furniture includes a suitable base 12 comprising side frames connected by cross members. Only one of the side frames is shown at 14, the other side .frame being omitted to show the operating linkage. The cross members connecting the side members are shown at 16. The particular form of the supporting frame is not important and maybe variedbothin shape andv materials used de- Patented Mar. 22, 196% pending on the style selected for the article of furniture. The improvements in the leg rest supporting linkage to he described may be used in connection with various seat constructions having the seat and back rest mounted on a frame in various known Ways as well as in the partic-' ular constructions shown in the drawings.

in the particular forms of the invention illustrated, the body supporting members include a back rest 20 which y is shown as pivoted to the supporting frame at pivot points 2-2. A seat 24 is provided having rearwardly projecting ears 26 which are pivoted to the back rest at points 23 located at a distance above the pivot points 22. 30 is a leg rest which is mounted on suitable links to be described so that it will have a retracted position under the front end of the chair seat when the chair is in an upright seating position as shown in Figure 1 and will be automatically projected into a more or less horizontal position when the occupant leans back in the chair so as to tilt the back rest as shown in Figures 2 and 3. When the occupant desires to sit up he leans forward and by exerting a slight downward pressure on the leg rest, the back rest and seat assume proper positions for an up right seating position'and the leg rest is retracted out of the way.

The back rest, seat and leg rest are connected by a system of linkage. A single system may be used but preferably a duplicate system is used at each side of the chair. The linkage illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 corn sists of three interconnected pairs of links. The first pair of links comprises a first link 32 and a second link 34 pivoted together at 36. The free end of the first link carries a pivot stud 38 which is connected to the leg rest 38 and the free end of the second link 34 is pivoted to the front portion of the seat 24 at point 40.

The second pair of links comprises a first link 42 and a second link 44 pivoted to each other at 46. The free end of the first link 42; is pivoted to the leg rest 30 at point as and crosses the second link 34 of the first pair of links to which it is pivoted at the crossing point 49. The free end of the secondlink 4d of the second pair of links is pivoted at to the free end of a guide link 5'2, the lower end of which is pivoted at 54 to the base 12.

The third pair of links comprises a. first link 56 and a second link 58 which are pivoted together at point till. The free end of the second link 58 is pivoted to the base at point 62 and the first link 56 is pivoted at an intermediate point 64 to the chair seat. At its outer end he yond the point 54 the link 5'6 is pivoted at 68 to an inter mediate point of the link 44 of the second pair of links. An actuating link 69 is pivoted to a link of the third pair of links, it being shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 as pivoted to the link 58 of the second pair of links at point Til just below the pivot point 60. At its rear end the actuating link so is operably connected to the back rest, it being shown as being pivoted to the lower end of the back rest at point 72 which is substantially below the point 22 at which the back rest is pivoted to the frame. Thus when the back rest is tilted back it will cause the actuating link 69 to force the third pair of links 56 and 53 to a more nearly straight position, thereby raising the seat about its pivot to a tilted position. The third pair of links 56 and 5d are thus seen to comprise a toggle which tilts the seat and firmly supports it in the desired tilted position.

The particular seat operating linkage above described forms a part of the subject matter of an application for US. patent filed by me April 9, 1957, Serial #651,709, of which this case is therefore a continuation in part. The present case is directed particularly to the leg rest linkage which may be used with various seat and back rest linkages.

It will be seen that when the chair is moved to a re clining position the movement of the link 56 around the pivot point 64 of the seat will pull back the second link 44 of the second pair of links, this link also being rotated about the axis of the pivot 68 by its connection at point 50 to the guide link 52 which is anchored to the stationary frame. This will move the link 42 which is connected with the link 34 of the first pair .of links and will cause the leg rest to be swung out, projected forwardly from the chair and tilted to a more or less horizontal position.

A novel construction for securing the proper angular position of the leg rest is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and comprises the provision of a slot 80 in'the leg rest in which the pivot stud 38 carried by the link 32 of the first pair of links slides. For controlling the position of the stud in this slot, a control link 82 is provided which is pivoted at its end at point 84 to an extension arm 86 which projects from the end of the first link 42 of the second pair of links beyond the pivot point 48 where such link is pivoted to the leg rest. This arrangement permits the leg rest to assume a substantially horizontal position when completely projected in the full reclining adjustment of the body supporting elements and intermediate positions properly correlated to intermediate seat and back rest positions. The position of the head of pivot 38 at the end of the slot nearest to the pivot 48 when the leg rest is retracted (Fig. 1) gives rapid lift to the leg rest and quicker support to the legs during the initial part of the leg rest movement without causing the leg rest to rise above the desired final position as the pivot head is moved away from the pivot 48 (Fig.3). This construction permits of a substantial rise in elevation of the leg rest so as to keep it in'proper position with respect to the front of the seat during the latter part of the reclining movement of the chair, but without a great change in the angular position of the leg rest with respect to the floor level. Thus the leg rest reaches a nearly horizontal position during the intermediate positions of the chair without being caused to tilt upward to an Inn comfortable position with its forward edge higher than its rear edge when the chair is in its extreme reclining position. The compound movement produced by action of the two leg rest supporting links, one of which has a sliding movement of its pivot pin produced by the swinging or lever action of the other link acting through the connecting link, results in the desired positioning of the leg rest at the various stages of the reclining cycle ina manner not obtainable with constructions in which the links are pivoted to the leg rest at a fixed distance apart.

7 In order to close the space between the leg rest proper and the chair seat when the leg rest is projected, if desired, a strip 90 may be provided extending transversely of the chair and attached at points 952 to the first links 42 of the second pairs of links where a duplicate set of links is used at each side of the chair.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modified construction of the leg rest linkage in which the first link 32a of the first pair of links carries the pivot stud 38 working in the slot 80 in the leg rest 30 as before. The second link 34 of the first pair of links is pivoted to the first link at 36 and to the chair seat 24 at 40. It is also pivoted at 49 to the first link 42 of the second pair of links which is pivoted at 48a to the leg rest. which is pivoted at 84 to the end of control link 82a. In this instance the other end of the control link 82:: is not pivoted to the link 32a concentrically with the position of stud 38 but is connected to a point 87 on the link below the end which carries the stud 38. By this means a modified range of movements of the leg rest is secured.

Figures 4 and 5 also show the improved leg rest linkage as applied to a different means for supporting the seat and back rest. In this construction the free end of the first link 42 of the second pair of links is pivoted at 46 to the free end of the second link 44a of the second pair of links. The other end of link 44a is pivoted at 90 to a bracket 92 fixed to the side frame 14. In this construction the seat is tilted by means of a guide plate 94 pivoted to a bracket on the-side frame at point 96 and connected by a seat guide link 98 pivoted to the guide plate 94 at point 109 and to the seat at point 102. The guide plate 94 is connected by a power transmission link 104 which is pivoted to the guide plate at point 106 and is pivoted to an intermediate point of the second link 44a of the second pair of leg rest links at 108. The guide plate 94 is swung about its pivot by an actuating link 11d pivoted at 112 to the lower part of the back rest 20.

Figures 6 and 7 show another modification in the leg rest linkage in which the first link 32b of the first pair of leg rest supporting links carries a stud 3812 at a point below the outer end of the link. This stud operates in a slot 30b in the leg rest. The control link 8212 is connected to the outer end of the link 3212 at point 87b beyond the location of the stud 38b. This construction permits further modification in the ratio of movement between the leg rest and the seat and back rest so as to produce the desired interrelationship between such positions. The seat and back rest linkage shown in Figures 6 and'7 is the same as that illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

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 arrangements of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising a stationary support, body supporting members operatively connected to said support, said body supporting members including a back rest member and a seat member, a leg rest member and a system of linkage for connecting said members for causing coordinated The link 42 has an extension 86 movement thereof when it is desired to change the positions of the body supporting members in accordance with the Wishes of the occupant, said system of linkage including two pairs of links interconnected with each other, links of the first and second pairs of said links being pivoted to the leg rest at spaced points the distance between which is variable, the leg rest having a slot there in in which the pivotal connection between the leg rest and the first link of the first pair of links can slide, and a control link pivoted at one end to the first link ofthe second pair of links at a point removed from the point at which said last named link is pivoted to the leg rest, the other end of said control link being pivoted to the first link of said first pair of links whereby the pivotal connection between the first link of said first pair of links and the leg rest is caused to slide in said slot in the leg rest when the leg rest is moved to raised position by movement of the back rest towards a reclining position.

2. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising a stationary support, body supporting members operatively connected to said support, said body supporting members includinga back rest member and a seat member, a leg rest member and a system of linkage for connecting said members for causing coordinated movement thereof when it is desired to change the positions of the body supporting members in accordance with the wishes of the occupant, said system of link age including two pairs of links interconnected with each other, links of the first and second pair of said links being pivoted to the leg rest at spaced points the distance between which is variable, a link of the second pair of links being pivoted to the leg rest at a point removed from the free end of said link so as to provide a projecting lever arm at the end of said link, the leg rest having a slot therein in which the pivotal connection between the leg rest and the free end of the first link of the first pair of links can slide, and a control link connecting the free end ofthe lever arm at the end of the first link of said second pair of links with the first link of said first point at which the control link is pivotedto the first link of the first pair of links coincides with the pivotal connection between said first link and the leg rest.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the point at which the control link is pivoted to the first link of the first pair of links is below the point at which said first link is pivoted to the leg rest.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the point at which the control link is pivoted to the first link of the first pair of links is above the point at which said first link is pivoted to the leg rest.

6. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person comprising body supporting members including a back rest, a seat and a leg rest, and a system of linkage for connecting said members for causing coordinated movement thereof when it is desired to change the positions of the body supporting members in accordance with the wishes of the occupant, there being links of said system connected to the leg rest at spaced points, one of said links being pivoted between its ends to the leg rest so as to provide an arm projecting at its end beyond the point at which it is pivoted to the leg rest,

the free end of the second of said links having a pivotal and lost motion connection with the leg rest, and a controlling'link connectedat one end to said pivotal and lost motion connection, and at its other? end to the projecting arm of said first link pivoted to the leg rest.

7. An article of repose for supporting the body of a a person comprising body supporting members including a back rest, a seat and a leg rest, and a system of linkage for connecting said members for causing coordinated movement thereof when it is desired to change the positions of the body supporting members in accordance with the wishes of the occupant, there being first and second links of said system connected to the leg rest at spaced points, the first of said links being pivoted to the leg rest, the free end of the second of said links having a pivotal and lost motion connection with the leg rest, 7

and a controlling link connected at one end to said pivotal and lost motion connection, and at its other end to a point on said first link spaced from the point at which said link is pivoted to the leg rest. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 19, 1952