US2958372A

US2958372A - Article of repose for supporting the

Info

Publication number: US2958372A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1960-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1977-11-01

Description

A. LORENZ Nov. 1, 1960 ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Original Filed Oct. 14. 1953 FIG.

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR ANTOA/ LORENZ JATTORN 5 ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A ?ERSON Anton Lorenz, Ocean Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Original application Oct. 14, 1953, Ser. No. 385,985,

now Patent No. 2,827,108, dated Mar. 18, 1958. Divided and this application Nov. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 696,826

Claims. (Ci. 155-106) The present invention relates to reclining chairs, and in particular to an improved reclining chair of the type including a seat, a back-rest and a leg-rest coordinated for movement with respect to each other wherein a compound inclining movement is imparted to the seat to increase the angle between the seat and back-rest as a function of the reclining movement and the leg-rest is elevated as a function of said reclining movement. This is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 385,985 filed on October 14, 1953 and entitled Article of Repose for Supporting the Body of a Person, now Patent No. 2,827,108, issued March 18, 1958.

It is generally known to construct chairs of the reclining type which include a seat and back-rest rockably mounted on a support and a leg-rest disposed beneath the forward end of the seat and coordinated to the movement of the back-rest such that the leg-rest is elevated as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest. Accordingly, when the occupant of the seat leans back and displaces the back-rest from its normal sitting position to the various reclined positions, the leg-rest is moved upwardly and outwardly to an elevated position selected to comfortably accommodate the person in the reclined or partially reclined position.

Broadly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved linkage for controlling and coordinating the seat, back-rest and leg-rest of a reclining chair of the aforesaid general construction. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved coordinating and controlling linkage which is effective to impart a compound inclining move ment to the seat as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest and to elevate the leg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention, my improved reclining chair comprises a support and a back-rest having a depending extension which is disposed in upright sitting position and is pivotally mounted at the lower end of its depending extension for reclining movement. The chair further includes a seat which is mounted to the back-rest at a point spaced above the pivot of the backrest on the support such that the seat translates rearward upon reclining movement of the back-rest about its pivot on the support. A guiding link is disposed below the seat in a forwardly inclined position and extends forwardly and upwardly from its lower end to its upper end when the back-rest is in the upright sitting position, the guiding link being pivoted adjacent its upper end to the seat and adjacent its lower end to the support. Thus,

the reclining movement of the back-rest is simultaneously effective to cause the seat to move rearwardly and to cause the pivot of the guiding link on the seat to move upwardly such that a compound inclining movement is imparted to the seat to increase the angle between the seat and back-rest as a function of the reclining movement. A leg-rest is disposed in a stored position beneath the forward end of the seat and is mounted on the chair 2,958,372 Patented Nov. 1, 1960 for movement from a stored position to various elevated positions. Linkage means are operatively connected to the leg-rest and to the support for elevating the seat as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest. Accordingly, in response to reclining movement of the chair, a compound inclining movement is imparted to the seat and the leg-rest is elevated as a function of said reclining movement.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of an improved reclining chair illustrating features of the present invention shown in the upright sitting position; and,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the reclining chair illustrated in Fig. 1 shown in a reclined position.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, there is shown an improved reclining chair demonstrating features of the invention which include a support 620 which is made up of side frames or members 684, 636 which are interconnected by transverse bracing bars or members 388.

A back-rest 626 is pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end on the support 620 at a back-rest pivot 628.

The chair further includes a seat 630 having a seat pivot 632 adjacent its rearward end which pivotally mounts the seat 630 on the back-rest 626 at a point spaced above the pivot 628 of the back-rest 626 on the support 620. The rigid depending extension of the back-rest 626 intermediate the

pivots

628, 632 serves as a mounting arm for the back-rest on the support. The disposition of the seat pivot 632 above the back-rest pivot 628 is such that the seat pivot will translate rearwardly upon a reclining movement of the back-rest 626. In the illustrative position of the seat pivot 632, that is slightly forwardly of a position vertically above the pivot 628, the seat pivot 632 will translate first rearwardly and then through a downward arc in response to reclining movement.

Positioned below the seat 639 is a guiding link 638 which is disposed in a forwardly inclined position. The guiding link 638 extends forwardly and upwardly from its lower end to its upper end when the baclcrest 626 is in the upright sitting position and is adapted to turn in a counterclockwise direction. A pivot 642 provides a pivotal connection at the lower end of the guiding link 638 to the support 620. The upper end of the guiding link 638 is pivoted to the seat at the pivot 640. The reclining movement of the back-rest 626, in addition to causing the seat pivot 632 to move rearwardly, causes the pivot 640 of the guiding link 638 to move upwardly in a rearwardly directed are such that a compound inclining movement is imparted to the seat 630 which increases the angle between the seat and the back-rest as a function of the reclining movement of the chair.

Positioned beneath the forward end of the seat 630 is a leg-rest 698 which is disposed in a stored position and is movable into various elevated positions forwardly of the seat 630. The leg-rest 698 is swingably mounted at a leg-rest pivot 600 on the forward end of the seat 630 by means of a depending hanger 612. A controlling or connecting link 694 is operatively connected to the movably mounted leg-rest 698 to elevate the leg-rest as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest. The controlling link 694 has a pivotal connection 633 at its upper end to the support 620 at a location adjacent to and spaced rearwardly of and below the pivot 60% and has a pivotal connection 696 at its lower end to the legrest 698. The leg-rest 698 serves as a biasing means for 3 returning the movable components of the reclining chair from the reclined position to which the chair is brought by the seat occupant to the upright sitting position.

The reclining movement of the chair is limited by a stop 625 which is in position to abut the guiding link 638' when the guiding link 638 approaches the vertical or upright position illustrated by the broken lines. The front cross brace 688'serves as a stop and is in position to abut the seat 630 to properly orient the chair components in the sitting position.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention a typical operating sequence of. the chair will be described:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair and leans back against the back-rest 626, the rearward portion of the seat' will move through a rearward arc and then through a downward arc, the radius thereof depending upon the spacing of the seat pivot 632 from the back rest pivot 628. Simultaneously the guiding link 638 moves through an upwardly and rearwardly directed are about the pivot 642 which elevates the forward portion of the seat 630 such that the seat 630 experiences a compound inclining movement. The movement of the seat 630 rearwardly causes the controlling link 694 to turn in the counterclockwise direction about its pivot 633 which in turn elevates the leg-rest 698 as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest.

A latitude of modifications, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the invention be construed broadly andin the manner consistent with the spirit and? scope of the disclosure herein.

What I claim is:

1'. An improved reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest having a depending extension and disposed in a substantially upright sitting position, means adjacent the lower end of said extension pivotally mounting said backrest on said support for reclining movement, a seat, means adjacent the rearward end of said seat pivotally mounting said seat to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivot of said back-rest on said support, the pivot for said. seat being disposed above the pivot for said back-rest and in position to translate rearwardly and downwardly upon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot on said support, a guiding link disposed below said seat in a forwardly inclined position and extending forwardly and upwardly from its lower end to its upper end when said back-rest is in said upright sitting position, means pivotally connecting said upper end of the guiding link to said seat, means pivotally connecting said lower end of said guiding link to said support, the reclining movement of said back-rest being simultaneously efiective to cause said pivot for said seat to move rearwardly and downwardly and to cause the pivot of said guiding link on said seat to move upwardly such that a compound inclining movement is imparted to said seat to increase the angle between said seat and back-rest as a function of said reclining movement, a leg-rest disposed in a stored position beneath the forward end of saidseat, means movably mounting said leg-rest on said seat for. movement from said stored position to various. elevatedpositions, and link means operatively connected to said leg-rest and to said support for elevating said leg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

2. An improved reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest having a depending extension and disposed in a substantially upright sitting position, means adjacent the lower end of said extension pivotally mounting said backrest on said support for reclining movement; a seat,.means adjacent the rearward end of said seat pivotally mounting said seat to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivot of said back-rest on said support, the pivot for said seat being disposed above the pivot for saidback-rest and in position to translate rearwardly and downwardly upon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot on said support, a guiding link disposed below said seat in a forwardly inclined position and extending forwardly and upwardly from its lower end to its upper end when said back-rest is in said upright sitting position, means pivotally connecting said upper end of the guiding link to said seat, means pivotally connecting said lower end of said guiding link to said support, the reclining movement of said back-rest being simultaneously effective to cause said pivot for said seat to move rearwardly and downwardly and to cause the pivot of said guiding link on said seat to" move upwardly such that a compound inclining movement'is imparted to said seat to increase the angle between said seat and back-rest as a function of said reclining movement, a leg-restdisposed in a stored position beneath the forward end of said seat, a hanger pivotally mounting said leg-rest on said chair for movement from said stored position to various elevated positions, and a controlling link pivotally connected to said leg-rest an'dto' said support for elevating said leg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

3. An improved'reclining chair comprising a support, a back-resthaving a depending extension and disposed in' a substantially upright sitting position, means adjacent the lower endof said extension pivotally mounting said back rest on said'support for reclining movement, a seat, means adjacent the rearward end of'said seat pivotally mounting said' seat to said back-rest at'a point spaced from the pivot of said back-rest on said support, the pivot for said seat, being disposed above the pivot for said back-rest and in position to translate rearwardly and downwardlyupon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot on said'support, guiding means disposed below said seat and operatively engaged between said seat and said support for raising the forward portion of said seat in response to said reclining movement, said reclining movement of said back-rest being simultaneously effective to cause said pivot for said seat to move rearwardly such that a compound inclining movement is imparted to said seat to increase the angle between said seat and back-rest as a function of said reclining movement, a leg-rest disposed in a stored position beneath the forward end of said seat, means movably mounting said leg-rest on said chair for movement from said stored position to various elevated positions, and link means connected to said leg-rest and to said support for elevating said leg-rest as a function of'said reclining movement.

4. An improved reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest having a depending extension and disposed in a substantially upright sitting position, means adjacent the lower end of said extension pivotally mounting said back-rest on said support for reclining movement, a seat, means adjacent the rearward end of said seat pivotally mounting said seat to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivot of said back-rest on said support, the pivot for said seat being disposed above the pivot for said backrest and in position to translate rearwardly and downwardly upon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot on said support, guiding means disposed below said seat and operatively engaged between said seat and said support for raising the forward portion of said seat in response to said reclining movement, said reclining movement of said back-rest being simultaneously effective to cause said pivot for said seat to move rearwardly such that a compound inclining movement is imparted to said seat to increase the angle between said seat and back-rest as a function of said reclining movement, a leg-rest disposedzin astored position beneath the forward end of said seat, means operatively connected to said leg-rest adjacent theiupper'end thereof and movably mounting said leg-rest on said seat for movement from said stored position to various elevated positions, alink disposed in a forwardly and downwardly inclined position, means pivotally mounting said link adjacent I itsupper end on said support, and means pivotally connecting the lower end of said link to the lower end of said leg-rest, the inclining movement of said seat being effective to pull said upper end of said leg-rest upwardly and rearwardly and said link simultaneously being effective to push said lower end of said leg-rest upwardly and forwardly to elevate said leg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

5. An improved reclining chair comprising a support, a hack-rest having a depending extension and disposed in a substantially upright sitting position, means adjacent the lower end of said extension pivotally mounting said backrest on said support for reclining movement, a seat, means adjacent the rearward end of said seat pivotally mounting said seat to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivot of said back-rest on said support, the pivot for said seat being disposed above the pivot for said back-rest and in position to translate rearwardly and downwardly upon reclining movement of said back-rest about its pivot on said support, a guiding link disposed below said seat in a forwardly inclined position and extending forwardly and upwardly from its lower end to its upper end when said back-rest is in said upright sitting position, means pivotally connecting said upper end of the guiding link to said seat, means pivotally connecting said lower end of said guiding link to said support, the reclining movement of said back-rest being simultaneouslyeffective to cause said seat to move rearwardly and downwardly and to cause the pivot of said guiding link on said seat to move upward- 1y such that a compound inclining movement is imparted to said seat to increase the angle between said seat and back-rest as a function of said reclining movement, a legrest disposed in a stored position beneath the forward end of said seat, means operatively connected to said leg-rest adjacent the upper end thereof and movably mounting said leg-rest on said seat for movement from said stored position to various elevated positions, a link disposed in a forwardly and downwardly inclined position, means pivotally mounting said link adjacent its upper end on said support, and means pivotally connecting the lower end of said link to the lower end of said leg-rest, the inclining movement of said seat being effective to pull said upper end of said leg-rest upwardly and rearwardly and said link simultaneously being effective to push said lower end of said leg-rest upwardly and forwardly to elevate said leg-rest as a function of said reclining movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS