US3054639A

US3054639A - Leg rest control linkage for reclining chairs

Info

Publication number: US3054639A
Application number: US803195A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fridtjof F Schliephacke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-03-31
Filing date: 1959-03-31
Publication date: 1962-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-09-18

Description

Sept. 18, 1962 F. F. scHLlEPHAcKr-z 3,054,639

LEG REST CONTROL LINKAGE RoR RECLINING CHAIRS Filed March 51, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

Sept. 18, 1962 F. F. scHLxEPHAcKE 3,054,639

` LEG REST CONTROL LINKAGE FOR RECLINING CHAIRS Filed March 3l, .1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. FQ/D rJoF A' scm /ff/A ck;

ymvv.

Sept. 18, 1962 F. F. scHLlEPHAcKE 3,054,639

LEO REST CONTROL LINKAOE FOR REOLINING CHAIRS Filed March 5l, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V ENT 0R.

-BYMlv-s@ Sept. 18, 1962 F. F. scHLlEPHAcKE 3,054,639

LEG REST OONTROIJ LINKAGE FOR REOLINING CHAIRS Filed March 3l, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIO?.

@mi-M+ Sept. 18, 1962 F. F. scHLu-:PHACKE 3,054,639

LEG REST CONTROL LINKAGE FOR REOLINING CHAIRS Filed March 51, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

FP/DTJOF F. JCI/ /E'PHA CKE Arrokutv Sept. 18, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,054,639

LEO REST CONTROL LINKAOE FOR REOLINING CHAIRS Filed March 3l, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. Il.

INVENTOR. Fe/D TJoF sow /fPf/ACKE dwz; ,L Q Arron/vsn United States Patent O 3,055,639 LEG REST CNTRL LNKAGE FOR RECLNNG CHAIRS Fridtiof F. Schliephacke, Beriin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assigner to Anton Lorenz, Ocean Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fia.

Filed Mar. 3i, 1959, Ser. No. 803,l95 9 Claims. (fCl. 297-39) The present invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs and in particular to a novel and improved leg-rest linkage for reclining chairs having an underslung type of leg lrest which when retracted folds inwardly to a position parallel to and close to the lower surface of the seat.

The leg rest linkage of the present invention is particularly adapted for use in a reclining chair of the type having a rigid seat and backrests and in which the seat is raised well above the iloor surface by high legs. Recent styling developments in reclining chairs of this type have imposed particular problems, particularly with regard to extension of the leg rest to an extended position in response to rearward tilting movements of the body supporting structure. For esthetic purposes, the chair frame is mounted on relatively long legs of narrow diameter so that an open space is provided between the bottom of the seat and the floor surface. In chairs having this modern styling, it is necessary to conceal the leg rest in its retracted position so that the chair will have the appearance of a normal well-styled chair in its upright sitting position, and for this purpose the leg rest must be mounted so that in its retracted position it is closely spaced from the bottom surface of the seat and is maintained parallel to the seat. The leg rest linkage must also be so arranged and constructed that in its folding or collapsed position it is in very compact form with the links thereof closely spaced from each other and preferably substantially parallel to each other. In this condition, neither the leg rest nor the leg rest linkage is visible from outside the chair, when the body supporting structure is in the sitting position.

A serious problem presented by the structure of a chair of the above-mentioned type is concerned with the movements of the leg rest from its underslung, inverted, retracted position to an extended position forwardly of and substantially at the level of the seat, when the body supporting structure is moved from its upright sitting position to a rearwardly-tilted position. In order to bring the leg rest from its retracted position to its extended position, the leg rest must first be swung downwardly and forwardly from its substantially horizontal position beneath the seat to a vertical position beneath the forward end of the seat, and then swung upwardly and outwardly so that it is spaced forwardly of the front end of the seat. The requirements of chair design are such that the height of the seat above the oor surface must be standard to insure a comfortable sitting position. The spacing of the seat from the iioor therefore provides very limited space through which the leg rest can travel in its path of movement. The leg rest must of course pass through this limited space in such a manner that it will not strike or scrape the floor. A structural requirement of the chair, therefore, is that the lowest portion of the leg-rest must have a clearance of at least one inch above the floor during its path of movement from its horizontal underslung position in order to insure that the leg rest does not strike the fioor or even a rug upon which the chair may be resting. This problem is accentuated by the fact that the leg rest must be mounted on relatively long links in order to enable it to be positioned well forwardly of the seat in its extended position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a leg ICC rest linkage for a reclining chair of the type described, which linkage is made up of links of relatively small size which are effective to move the leg rest to an extended position well forwardly of the front of the seat, and at the same time is so constructed and arranged as to provide sufficient clearance between the leg-rest and the oor when the leg rest is initially moved downward from its underslung position beneath the seat.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a leg-rest linkage of the character described which incorporates lost motion means for delaying the opening of said linkage until the front of the seat has been raised a suiicient distance from the floor to permit the leg-rest to pass freely therebeneath without striking or scraping the floor surface.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a leg rest linkage of the character described which is particularly adapted for use in chairs having modern styling features including an open side frame, high legs, etc.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. l is a perspective view of a reclining chair incorporating the leg rest linkage of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of an improved reclining chair embodying the leg-rest linkage of the present invention, the Chair being shown in its upright or its sitting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. l, showing the chair in a partially tilted or intermediate position with the leg-rest linkage `slightly extended, but with the leg-rest in a position in which it has not yet reached the lowest point in its path of movement;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the chair tilted rearwardly to its fullest extent and the leg-rest in its elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View, with parts broken away and `shown in section, of a reclining chair having a modified leg-rest linkage made in accordance with the invention herein, the chair -being shown in its upright or sitting position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the forward position of the chair of FIG. 5, showing the chair in its rearwardlytilted position and the leg rest linkage in its full-extended leg-supporting position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair having another modified type of leg-rest linkage made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the forward portion of the chair shown in FIG. 7, with the chair shown in its rearwardly-tilted position and the leg-rest linkage thereof in its extended leg-supporting posi-tion;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair incorporating still another type of leg-rest linkage made in accordance with the present invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position;

FIG. l0 is a partial side elevational view of the chair shown in FiG. 9, but showing the chair in its rearwardlytilted position with the leg-rest in its fully-extended, legsupporting position;

FIG. ll is a side elevational view of a reclining chair incorporating a further modified type of leg-rest linkage made in accordance `with the present invention; the chair being shown in an upright sitting position; and

FIG. l2 is a side elevational View similar to FIG. l1 but showing the vchair thereof in its rearwardly-tilted position with the leg-rest linkage extended and in a position for supporting the legs of the occupant of the seat.

Referring now speciiically to the drawings, FIG. l illustrates the type of chair in which the leg rest linkage of the present invention is particularly adapted and intended to be incorporated. The chair has a iixed and immovable support frame or base which includes legs 12. A body supporting structure 14, comprising a seat 16 and a backrest 18 for-med rigidly with each other, is mounted for rearward tilting movement upon the support frame 10.

FIG. 2 shows the inner constructional detail of the chair illustrated in FIG. l. It will be observed that the support frame 10 includes open side frames 20 which have side rails 22 connected by cross bars or braces 24. The chair also includes a leg-rest 26 which is carried by a legrest actuating linkage designated generally by the reference numeral 28, the latter being mounted on the support frame 10 and connected to the seat 16 in a manner which will be presently described.

As can be readily seen in FIG. 2, the legs 12 are made in accordance with modern styling and are relatively high and narrow so as to present a large unencumbered space beneath the seat 16. In conformance with this modern styling, it is required in a chair of this type that the legrest be retracted to an underslung position, as indicated in FIG. 2, in which it is normally spaced a short distance beneath the lower surface of the seat and is parallel thereto, so as to be substantially hidden from view by the side rails 22. For this purpose it will also be observed that the leg-rest linkage 2S in this retracted position of the leg-rest is collapsed to a very compact condition in which the links of said linkage are closely folded adjacent the seat l16 and the side rails 22 are also hidden from view. The leg-rest 26 in its retracted position is inverted as shown in FIG. 2, and in order to be brought to its extended position illustrated in FIG. 4 it is necessary to move the leg rest downwardly and outwardly through a designated path of movement, during which movement the legrest is brought to a Vertical position and approaches thesurface of the floor. As was previously indicated, this invention is concerned with the problem of providing sutilcient clearance of the leg rest in order to prevent the latter from striking or scraping along the iloor surface when the leg rest is moved through said path of movement.

The body supporting unit 14 is mounted :for rearward tilting movement upon support frame 10 by a link 3i) which is `connected at its upper end by pivot 3.2 to said unit 14 at rthe juncture between the seat 16 and back-rest 18. The other end of the link 30 is connected by pivot 34 to a bracket 36 which is formed as a xed part of the support frame 10. When the occupant of the chair in the sitting position leans rearwardly upon the backrest 18, the body supporting unit 14 will tilt rearwardly about the pivot 32, and at the same time the link 30 will swing rearwardly about the pivot 34 to carry the body supporting unit in a rearward -direction relative to the support frame 1t) until the fully tilted position of said body supporting unit (shown in FIG. 4) is reached. In this fully tilted position of FIG. 4, the rear surface of the back-rest 18 engages the rearmost cross bar 24, the latter serving as stop means to limit further rearward tilting movement of said body supporting unit.

Referring now specitically to the leg-rest linkage 28 which incorporates the invention herein, the leg-rest 26 is supported and guided by a first pair of links 38, 4t) `and a second pair of

links

42, 44. The rst pair of

links

38 and 40 are interconnected in end-to-end relationship by a pivot 46, While the second pair of

links

42 and 44 are likewise connected end-to-end by a pivot 48. The free end of the link 38 is connected to the structure of the leg-rest 26 by a pivot 50. The free end of the link 42 of the second pair of links is also connected to the leg-rest structure by pivot 52 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 50 of the link 38 to said leg rest 26.

The free end of the link 40 is pivotally mounted at 54 on the seat 16 at a point near the forward end thereof.

The free end of the link 44 of the second pair of links is connected by pivot S6 to one end of an auxiliary link 58 the other end of which is pivotally mounted at 60 on the seat 16 at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal mount 54. rIhe auxiliary link 58 forms a part of the leg-rest control linkage during the initial rearward tilting movement of the body supporting structure 14, and serves as lost motion means for delaying the extension of the leg-rest linkage, in a manner which Will be presently described.

Movement of the

iirst link pair

38, 40 is effected by a iirst actuating link 62 which is pivotally mounted at 64 on an elongated bracket 66 which is fixed to the support frame '-10 and forms a rigid portion thereof. The first actuating link 62. is connected by pivot 68 to the upper end portion of the link 40 of the rst pair of links and serve as a pusher link to cause the rst pair of links 38, 4t) to move to their extended position when the body supporting unit 14 is tilted and moved rearwardly.

A second actuating link 70 is associated with the second pair of

links

42 and 44. This second actuating link 70 is pivotally mounted at 72 on the fixed elongated bracket 66, and has a bent free end portion 70a which is pivotally connected by pivot 56 to the link 44 and auxiliary link 58 coaxially with the point of connection between said two latter links. The second actuating link 7i) serves as a pusher link to cause the auxiliary link S3 to pivot upwardly during the initial movement of the body supporting structure 14 from its upright sitting position of FIG. 2 to its rearwardly tilted position of IFIG. 4.

The link 38 of the rst pair of links crosses over the link 44 of the second pair of links and is pivotally connected thereto at its crossing-over point by pivot 76.

In the sitting position of the body supporting unit 14 shown in FIG. 2, the leg-rest linkage 28 is folded up into compact form and the leg-rest 26 is held in an inverted position substantially parallel to and closely spaced from the bottom surface of the seat 16. The side rails 22 are made sufficiently wide, or the open side frames 28 are provided with suiiicient filler material 20a, to cover the leg-rest 26 and the leg-rest linkage 28 so that these parts are not visible from the exterior of the chair. In this sitting position, the second actuating link 7@ is resting upon a stop member 78 which is tixed to the side rails 22 of the chair support frame 1i), so that the forward portion of the seat 16 is restrained against downward pivoting movement and the leg-rest 26 is maintained in its underslung retracted position. The auxiliary link 58 is resting upon a stop 80 which is also aixed to the seat 16, this stop 8G serving to lock the leg rest linkage in its folded position and prevent its downward collapse. The links of the leg rest linkage 28 can therefore not move until the body supporting unit 14 is moved rearwardly from its sitting position of FIG. 2.

When the occupant of the chair in the sitting position of FIG. 2 exerts a slight pressure against :the back rest 12, the body supporting unit 14 will move rearwardly guided by the guide link 3i) in a downward arc about the fixed pivot 34 and the front portion of the seat 16 will move upwardly and rearwardly, carrying with it the seat pivots 54 and 60.

FIG. 3 shows the condition of the chair in the initial stages of the rearward tilting movement of the body supporting unit 14. As the seat moves rearwardly, the seat pivot 54 is brought closer to the iixed pivot 64, thereby causing the first actuating link 62 to push against the rearwardly-moving link 4) of the first pair of links and causing said link 4t) to begin to pivot about said seat pivot 54. This pivoting movement of the Vlink 40 increases the angle between the first pair of

links

38 and 40, causing the link 38 to carry the leg rest 26 downwardly and forwardly from its original retracted position of FIG. l. The second pair of

links

42 and 44 determine the attitude of the leg rest 26, and the action of these links causes the leg rest to turn about the pivot 50 through an angle of substantially 180 from the substantially horizontal, inverted position of FIG. l to the reversed, upright extended position of FIG. 4. In traversing this path of movement, the leg rest 26 passes through a point in which it is vertically disposed and in which its edge is closest to the fioor surface. Since the links of the leg-rest linkage 23 are so arranged as to provide an accelerated movement of the leg rest 26 so that the leg rest travels an appreciably greater distance than the body supporting unit 14, ordinarily this vertical position of the leg-rest would be reached at a time before the front portion of the seat 16 has risen sufficiently to allow the leg-rest to clear the floor surface. In accordance with the persent invention however, the auxiliary link 58 acts to delay the action of the second pair of

links

42 and 44 until the seat front portion has risen a sufficient distance to provide clearance for the leg-rest. In this connection it will be noted that when the body supporting unit 14 is initially moved rearwardly, the seat pivot 60 is moved toward the fixed pivot 72 causing the second actuating link 7i) to urge the auxiliary link 68 in a forward and upward direction. The auxiliary link 58 therefore pivots upwardly about the pivot 6i) until it engages a blocking member or stop 82 which is affixed to the seat 16, this position being shown in FIG. 3.

The pushing force of the second actuating link 7i) is therefore primarily taken up by the auxiliary link 53, and the second pair of

links

42 and 44 are afforded only a small amount of relative movement so that the turning movement of the leg-rest 26 about the pivot SEB is held to a minimum. As shown in FIG. 3, therefore, at the time that the auxiliary link S8 engages the blocking member 82, the leg rest 26 has been moved forwardly past the front portion of the seat, and the leg-rest 26 has not yet been pivoted to its vertical position and is spaced well above the level of the floor surface.

Once the aurc'liary link 58 engages the blocking member 82, said auxiliary link 58 becomes a fixed portion of the seat 16 and thereafter becomes inactive. The pivot 56 therefore becomes a seat pivot and the second actuating link 70 is connected thereby to the seat and becomes a guiding link for raising the lforward portion of said seat 16. As the body supporting unit continues to pivot and tilt rearwardly, the first actuating link 62 continues to exert a pushing force upon lthe link 49 of the first pair of links, and the second pair of links through their pivotal connection 76 with the first pair of links serves its normal function in causing the leg-rest 26 to turn about pivot 50 until it assumes the substantially horizontal extended position of FIG. 4. In this extended position of FIG. 4, it will be observed that the leg rest 26 is spaced well forwardly of the front edge of the seat 16 and is substantially at the level thereof.

When the occupant of the chair in the rearwardly-tilted position of FIG. 4 wishes to return to the sitting position of FIG. l, he need only exert a slight downward pressure with the legs upon the extended leg-rest 26. A reverse action of the leg-rest linkage 2S then occurs to bring the leg-rest 26 back to its underslung retracted position of FIG. 2. The link 4@ will move downwardly about its seat pivot 54 and the link 44 will move downwardly about the pivot 56 which still serves as a seat pivot during this first phase of movement because the auxiliary link 58 is still held immovably relative to the seat by its engagement with the blocking member 82. After the leg-rest 26 has passed through that phase of its downward movement in which it is vertically disposed, the auxiliary link 58 leaves the blocking member 32 and begins to pivot downwardly about the seat pivot 60 until it engages the stop 80 to terminate the retracting movement of the leg-rest linkage. In this position the leg rest linkage 28 is completely folded and the leg-rest 26 is securely held in its underslung retracted position of FIG. 2.

The chair may also include a filler board 84 which is operatively connected to the leg-rest linkage 28. As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the filler board 84 is supported by a pair of links $6 and 83 which are respectively connected thereto at spaced points by pivots and 92. The free end of the link 88 is connected by pivot 94 to an intermediate point on the seat link 44 of the second pair of links, and the link S6 is connected at an intermediate point by pivot 96 to a forward portion of the leg-rest link 311 of the first pair of links. At its lower end, the link 86 has an elongated slot 98 through which extends a pivot pin 99 affixed to the leg-rest link 42 of the first pair of links.

In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 2, the filler board 84 is substantially vertically disposed beneath the front end `of the seat 16 and extends downwardly so as to conceal the leg-rest 26- when the chair is viewed from the front. In the rearwardly tilted position of the body supporting unit 14 shown in FIG. 4, the ller board links 86 and 88 are raised by the leg-rest links 33 and 44, and the filler board 84 is brought to the extended position shown in FIG. 4 in which it bridges the gap between the front edge of the seat 16 and the leg rest 26. The filler board 84 in this position serves as an auxiliary support upon which the upper portion of the legs of the occupant may rest. The two

pivotal connections

96 and 99 of the filler board link 36 with the respective leg rest links 3S and 42 prevent the filler board linkage from collapsing in the retracted position of FIG. 2. On the other hand, the elongated slot s98 provides a sliding connection between the filler board link 86 and the leg rest link 42 which permits the filler board 84 to be brought to its extended position of FIG. 4. The filler board 84- carries -a fixed stop member 97 which engages the link 88 in the position of FIG. 4, to hold the filler board immovably in its extended position.

In the succeeding embodiments now to be described, the filler board and its linkage will be omitted for the sake of clarity, it being understood however, that it is contemplated that a filler board of the type described in connection with FIGS. l through 4 can be incorporated in any one lof the linkages of such succeeding embodiments.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown a reclining chair which incorporates another embodiment of leg rest linkage demonstrating further features of the present invention. In these views similar reference numerals are used for like parts, except that these numerals are in the 100 series.

Again the chair includes -a support frame having relatively long legs 112 and mounting a body supporting unit 114 which includes a. seat 116 and backrest 118 formed rigidly with each other. The body supporting unit 114 is mounted for rearward tilting movement upon the support frame 1111 by a link which is connected at its upper end by a pivot 132 to the rear end portion of said body supporting unit, and at its lower end by pivot 134 to the support frame 11i). The leg-rest 126 is supported and guided by a leg-rest linkage 128` which is similar in construction to the leg-rest linkage of FIGS. 2 through 4, except as will be presently explained.

As in the previously-described embodiment, the leg rest linkage 128 includes a first pair of

links

138 and 140 connected in end-to-end relationship by pivot 146. The free end of link 138 is connected by pivot 150 to the legrest 126, while the free end of link 1411 is connected by pivot 154 to the seat 116. A second pair of

links

142 and 144 are also connected in end-to-end relationship by a pivot 148. The free end of the link 142 is connected by pivot 152 to a point on the leg rest 126 which is spaced on the pivot 156 while the free end of the link `144 is connected by a pivot 156 to the lower end of an auxiliary link 15b; The Vauxiliary link 15S is connected at its opposite end by pivot 160 to the seat 116. The links 138' and 144 cross each other and are connected at their crossing over point by a pivot 176. Movement of the first pair of links 138 and 1411 is effected by a first actuating link 162 which is mounted at 164 on a bracket 166 formed as a fixed part of the support frame 110, the other end of the first actuating link 162 being connected by pivot 168 to the upper portion of link 140.

Movement of the auxiliary link 158 is effected by a second actuating link 170 which is connected at one end by pivot 172 to the fixed bracket 166. This second actuating link 170 is coupled to the auxiliary link 158 in a different manner from that ofthe previous embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4, that is to say the actuating link 170 is not connected concentrically with the point of connection between the auxiliary link 158 and the link 144 of the second pair of links. Rather, said link 144 has yan angular terminal extension 144e, to the free end of which the free end of the second actuating link 171i is connected by pivot 145.

The operation of this leg rest linkage of FIGS. 5 and 6 is essentially the same as that described for the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4. In the sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 5, the leg-rest linkage 128- is in the collapsed position shown, and the leg-rest 126 is in its underslung retracted position in which it lis substantially horizontally disposed and closely spaced from the bottom surface of the seat 116. The second actuating link 170 is resting upon a stop 178 which is afiixed to the support frame 110, and the `auxiliary link 158 is resting upon a stop 180 which is also formed as a fixed part of the seat 116.

When the occupant of the seat in the upright sitting position of FIG. 5 leans rearwardly upon the backrest 118, the link 130 will pivot rearwardly to move the body supporting unit 114 in a rearward direction, and the body supporting unit will also begin to tilt about the pivot 134. During the initial phase of this movement, the second actuating link 170 will exert a pushing action upon the auxiliary link S thorugh the link extension 144e, and the auxiliary link 15S will pivot upwardly until it abuts the blocking member 182, thereby absorbing some of the movement of the leg-rest linkage 123 and preventing the said linkage from extending until the forward end of the seat has risen a suliicient distance to provide clearance for the movement of the leg rest 126. After the seat has risen a sufficient distance to provide such clearance, the auxiliary link 158 engages the blocking member 182 and becomes a rigid portion of the seat, the second actuating link 170 now pushing directly upon the seat link 144 of the second pair of links throu@ its pivotal connection 145, and the link 144 having a lever action to bring the leg rest 126 to the substantially horizontal extended position shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate still another modified type of leg-rest linkage made in accordance with the invention and incorporated in a chair of identical structure to that previously described. The leg-rest linkage differs from that shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 in that a second auxiliary link` is provided for the first pair of links.

The leg-rest linkage 228 yagain lcomprises a first pair of links 23S and 240 connected in end-to-end relationship by a pivot 246 and a second pair of

links

242 and 244 connected end to end by p-ivot 248. The free ends of the

links

238 and 242 are connected at spaced points on the leg-rest 226 by

respective pivots

259 and 252. The free end of the link 244 is pivotally connected lat 256 to an auxiliary link 258, the other end of which is pivotally mounted at 260 on a forward portion of the seat 216. The free end of the link 240 of the first pair of links is connected by pivot 255 to a second auxiliary link 253, the free end of which is pivoted at 254 to a point on the seat which is spaced rearwardly from the pivotal connection 260.

The leg-rest linkage 228 again includes a first actuating llink 262 which is pivotally mounted at 264 on a bracket 266 formed as a rigid part of the support frame 210. The forward end of the first actuating link 262' is connected by pivot 268 to an upper portion of the link 240 of the first pair of links. A second actuating link 270 iS pivot-ally mounted at one end by pivot 272 to said bracket 266, the other end of said link 27% having a vent extension portion 270e which is connected by pivot 256` to the pivotal connection between link 244 and the first auxiliary link 253. The

links

238 and 244 cross each other and are connected at the crossing-over point by a pivot 276.

The operation of this leg rest linkage 228` is essentially the same as that described in connection with the ernbodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. In the sitting position of the body supporting unit 214, shown in FIG. 7, the second actuating link 27 t) rests upon a stop 278 affixed to the support frame 219 while the

auxiliary links

258 and 253 rest upon

respective stops

294 and 259 which are fixed to the seat, thereby supporting the front end of the seat 216 and maintaining the leg rest linkage 228 in its compact folded position with the leg rest 226 in its underslung retracted position. When the occupant of the chair leans rearwardly upon the backrest 218, the body supporting unit 214 begins to turn about the pivot 232, and the link 230 swings rearwardly about its fixed pivot 2'34 to move the body supporting unit in a rearward direction. The two actuating links 262 and 27 il, however, instead of having a direct effect upon the link pairs 38, 40, 42 and 44, cause both

auxiliary links

253 and 258 to pivot upwardly until they engage the respectively blocking

members

257 and 282 which are afiixed to the seat. Thus a double lost motion means is provided for delaying the opening action of the leg-rest linkage 228 until the seat 216 has been raised a sufficient distance to permit the leg rest 226 to be swung outwardly and brought through its vertical position, while at the same time clearing the iioor surface. This delay period during the first phase of motion is longer than in the previous embodiments, so that the leg rest in this instance may be made larger and still have -an opportunity to clear the iioor surface.

A modified type of leg-rest linkage 323 is shown in FIGS. 9 and lt). In this structure, neither of the pairs of leg-rest links are pivotally mounted directly on the seat, but rather each is pivotally mounted on an end of a lever which is in turn mounted on the seat.

In this construction, a double-arm lever 361 is mounted intermediate its ends on the front end of the seat 316 by a pivot 363. The first pair of

links

338 and 340 are connected end-to-end by pivot 346. The free end of link 340 is connected by pivot 365 to one arm 361a of the double-arm lever 361, while the free end of the other link 33S is connected by pivot 350 to the legrest 326. The second pair of

links

342 and 344 are connected end-to-end by a pivot 348. The free end of link 342 is connected by pivot 352 to the leg-rest 326, while the free end of link 344 is connected by pivot 363 to the arm 361b of the double-arm lever 361. The

links

338 and 344 cross each other and are connected by pivot 376 'at their crossing-over point.

A first actuating link 362 is pivotally mounted at 364 on a bracket 366 connected to cross bar 324 and forming a fixed part of the chair support frame 310. The other end of the first actuating link 362 is connected by pivot 368 to an intermediate point on the link 340 of the first link pair.

A second actuating link 370` is also pivota-lly mounted on the bracket 366, this connection being effected by pivot 372. The other end of the second actuating link 370 has Ian inclined offset terminal portion 370a which is connected by -pivot 363 Ito the point of connection between the link 344 of the second link pair to the larm 361b of the double-arm lever 361.

In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 9, the double arm lever arm 361b rests upon a stop 367 which is rigidly and immovably mounted on the forward end of the seat 316. This stop 367 prevents any expanding movement of the leg-rest linkage 328 while the body-supporting unit 314 is in said Iupright sitting position, so that the leg-rest linkage 328 is maintained in its collapsed position with the leg-rest 326 retracted and underslung, as shown in FIG. 9. The second actuating link 370 also rests upon a stop 378 which is rigidly mounted on the support frame 316, this stop 37S serving to support the forward end of the seat 316 in the upright sitting position of the body-supporting unit 314. The rear end of the seat is supported by the link 331i which is connected to the body-supporting unit 314 and the support frame 310 by

respective pivots

332 and 334.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 31S, 4the rear portion of the body-supporting unit 314 will tilt rearwardly about the pivot 332 on link 330, and the link 33t) will also turn rearwardly about the fixed pivot 334 to move the bodysupporting unit 314 in a rea-rward direction relative to the support frame 310. As the seat 316 moves rearwardly the pivot 36S is brought closer to the fixed pivot 364, causing the first actuating link 362 t push upon the rearwardly-moving link 340 of the first pair of links and causing the link 346 to being to pivot about said pivot 365. ln the same manner, the second actuating link 370 exerts a pushing force upon the arm 361b of the doublearm lever 361, causing the latter to pivot in a clockwise direction about the seat pivot 363. The double-arm lever 361 therefore serves in this instance as the auxiliary link which takes up the pushing force of the second actuating link 376` during the first movement phase, so that the second pair of

links

342 and 344 are afforded very little relative movement. The pivoting movement of the legrest 326 about the pivot 351) is therefore held to a minimum, and the linkage 328 is retarded in its expansion until the forward end of the seat 316 has risen sufiiciently to prevent the leg-rest from engaging the floor surface in its movement to the extended position.

The double-arm lever 361 also serves an additional function in delaying movement of the first pair of links 338 and 34). As the second actuating link 370 pushes upon the arm 3611; and turns the double-arm lever 361, the other arm 36M moves in a direction to maintain the links 34S in its collapsed position. Thus, during this first phase lof movement, ythe pushing action of the first actuating link 362 is also substantially absorbed by the pivoting movement of the double-arm lever 361.

The first movement phase is ended by the engagement of the double-arm lever arm 361a with ya blocking member 369 which is rigidly affixed to the seat 369. Thereafter, the double-arm lever 361 becomes a rigid portion of the seat 316 and the ifull pushing force of the first actuating link 362 is Idirected to the link 340 of the first link pair. The linkage 328 is thus fully actuated to bring the leg-rest 326 to the extended position shown in FIG. l0.

A further modification of the leg-rest linkage is shown in FiGS. ll Vand l2. This linkage is similar to that illustrated in FGS. 9 and i0 and just described, except that the second actuating link is eliminated.

In this embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the first pair of links 438 and 449, connected by pivot 446, are connected at one end to the leg-rest 426 at 450, and at the other end by pivot 465 to the arm 461g of double-arm lever 461. The second pair of

links

442 and 444, connected by pivot 448, are connected at one end to the leg-rest 426 at 452, and at the other end by pivot 463 to the arm 461b of double-arm lever 461. At their crossingover point the

links

438 and 444 are connected by pivot 476. The double-arm lever 461 is mounted intermediate its ends on the seat 416 by pivot 463.

The first actuating link 462 is pivotally mounted at 464 on bracket 466 which is rigidly monuted on the support frame 410. The free end of the first actuating link 462 is connected by pivot 468 to the link 440. As can be seen in FiGS. ll and l2, there is no second actuating link in this instance.

In the upright sitting position of the body-supporting unit 414, shown in FIG. ll, lthe first actuating link 462 l@ rests upon a stop member 471, formed as a rigid part of the fixed bracket 466, to support the front end of the seat 416. The lever arm 46115 also rests upon stop 467, formed as a rigid part of the seat 416, thereby preventing any opening movement of the leg-rest linkage 428 while the chair is in its upright sitting position.

When the occupant of the chair, in `the sitting position of FIG. ll, exerts rearward pressure on the back-rest 418, the body-supporting unit 414 tilts rearwardly and is moved in a rearward direction by the rear link 430; The first actuating link 462 exerts a pushing force against link 446, but this is transmitted to the lever arm 461er, causing double-arm lever 461 to turn in a clockwise direction about its seat pivot 463. In this first phase of movement, such pivoting movement of the double-arm lever 461 retards the opening movement of the first pair of links 43S and 44d. In addition, the upward movement of lever arm 461b also retards the opening movement of the second pair of '

links

442 and 444.

The first movement phase terminates when the lever arm 461a engages the stop 469 which is fixed to the seat. The bell-crank lever 461 thus becomes immovable relative to the seat and thereafter the

pivots

463 and 465 become fixed seat pivots. The rst actuating link 462 is then effective to actuate the first link pair 438, 440 :and `also to actuate the

second link pair

442, 444 through said first link pair. Thus, the leg-rest linkage 428 is brought to its extended position of FIG. l2 Without `the necessity for providing a second actuating link.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein by way of illustrative examples, it will be obvious that numerous ladditions, changes and omissions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. In a reclining chair having a support frame, a bodysupporting structure including a seat and a back-rest mounted on said `support frame for rearward movement to a tilted position, and la leg-rest, leg-rest control means for supporting said leg-rest `and moving the latter from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat, said leg-rest control means including a constrained linkage mounted on the seat for movement therewith and carrying said leg-rest, actuating means connecting said constrained linkage to the support frame for actuating rsaid constrained linkage to extend said leg-rest in response to rearward movement of said body-supporting means, and an auxiliary Ilink connecting at least one link of said constrained linkage to said seat, said auxiliary link being pivotally mounted on said seat and associated with said actuating means for lost motion pivotal movement when said body supporting structure is initially moved rearwardly, whereby to delay actuation of said constrained linkage, said constrained linkage including a first pair of links connected end-to-end `and a second pair of links connected end-to-end, one link of each link pair being pivotally connected to the leg-rest, the other link of the first pair of links 4being pivotally mounted on the seat, the other link of said `second pair of links being pivotally connected to the auxiliary link, said auxiliary link being pivotally mounted on the seat.

2. Leg-rest control means according to claim l in which said actuating means includes an actuating link pivotally mounted on the support frame and pivotally connected to said other link of the first pair of links.

3. Leg-rest control means according to claim 2 in which said actuating means also includes a second actuating link pivotally mounted on the support frame and pivotally connected to said other link of the second pair of links.

4. In a reclining chair having a support frame, a bodysupporting unit including a rigidly-formed seat and a back-rest mounted on said support frame for rearward movement from `an upright sitting position to a tilted position, land a leg-rest, a leg-rest control linkage for supporting the leg-rest and moving the latter from a retracted, underslung position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat, said leg-rest control linkage, including a rst and second pair of links, each connected in end-to-end relationship, a first link of each pair being pivotally connected to the leg-rest, the second link of each pair 4being operatively coupled to the seat for movement therewith, an actuating link pivotally mounted on the support frame and connected to the link of one of said link pairs for 'actuating said link pairs to move the leg-rest toward its extended position in response to rearward tilting movement of the body-supporting unit, and lost motion means operatively connecting the: second link of the second pair of links to said seat, said lost motion means being movable during an initial phase of rearward tilting movement of the body-supporting unit and ret-arding the eiect of said actuating link upon said link pairs whereby to delay the movement of said leg-rest to its extended position, the lost motion means comprising an auxiliary link pivotally mounted on the seat and extending downwardly and forwardly to a pivotal connection with the second link of the second pair `of links.

5. A leg-rest control linkage according to claim 4 in which the lost motion means valso comprises second auxiliary link pivotally mounted -at a spaced point on the seat and pivotally connected to the second link of the rst pair of links.

6. A leg-rest control linkage according to claim 4 in which the auxiliary link comprises a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the seat and having a first arm pivotally connected to the second link of the second pair of links and a second arm pivotally connected to the second link of the iirst pair of links.

7. A leg-rest control linkage `according to claim 4 in which the structure includes a second actuating link pivotally mounted on the support frame and connected to the second link of the iirst pair of links.

8. In a recliningy chair having a support frame, a body-supporting structure including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support frame for rearward movement from an upright sitting position to a reclining position, and a leg-rest; leg-rest control means for supporting said leg-rest and moving `the latter from a retracted substantially horizontal, inverted position beneath the seat through a vertical position to an upright, substantially horizontal position forwardly of the seat, said leg-rest control means including a lazy-tong linkage carrying said leg-rest and expandable to guide the leg-rest to its extended position, means mounting said lazy-tong linkage on said seat, and an actuating link mounted on the support frame and connected to said lazy-tong linkage for expanding the latter to bring the leg-rest to its extended position when .the body-supporting structure is moved on the support frame to its reclining position, said mounting means including lost motion means connecting at least one link of the lazy-tong linkage to the seat and providing a pivotal mount therefor, said lost motion means being movable in a lost motion movement during the initial rearward movement of the body-supporting structure from its upright sitting position to its reclining [position and said pivotal mount moving relative to the seat lin a direction away from said actuating link to absorb the actuating force of said actuating link without substantial expansion of said lazy-tong linkage, where- 'by to delay turning movement of the leg-rest through its vertical position as the leg-rest is extended forwardly until the forward end of the seat thas risen a suihcient distance to provide clearance for the leg-rest to pass therebeneath, and stop means on said seat positioned to engage and block further movement of said lost motion means at the end of said initial movement of the bodysupporting structure and thereby provide a stationary pivotal mount for said one link on said seat, whereby further rearward movement of said body-supporting structure expands said lazy-tong linkage through said actuating link Ito bring said leg-rest to its extended position.

9. In a reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting structure including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support frame for rearward movement `from an upright sitting position to a reclining position, fand a leg-rest; leg-rest control means for supporting said leg-rest and moving the latter from a retracted substantially horizontal, inverted position beneath the seat through a vertical position to an upright, substantially horizontal position forwardly of the seat, said leg-rest control means including a lazy-tong linkage carrying said leg-rest and expandable to guide the leg-rest to its extended position, means mounting said lazy-tong linkage on said seat, `and an actuating link mounted on the support frame and connected to said lazy-tong linkage for expanding the latter to bring the leg-rest to its extended position when the body-supporting structure is moved on the support frame to its reclining position, said mounting means including an auxiliary link connecting at least one link of the lazy-tong linkage to the seat and providing a pivotal mount therefor, said auxiliary link lbeing movable in a lost motion movement during the initial rearward movement of the body-supporting structure Ifrom its upright sitting position to its reclining position and said pivotal mount moving relative to the seat in la direction away from said actuating link to absorb the actuating force of said actuating link without substantial expansion of said lazy-tong linkage, whereby to delay turning movement of the leg-rest .th-rough its vertical position as the leg-rest is extended forwardly until the forward end of seat has risen a suiiicient distance to provide clearance lfor the leg-rest to pass therebeneath, and stop means on said seat positioned to engage and block fur-ther movement of said auxiliary link at the end of said initial movement of the body-supporting structure and thereby provide a stationary pivotal mount for said one link on said seat, whereby lfurther rearward movement of said body-supporting structure expands said lazy-tong linkage ythrough said actuating link to bring said leg-rest to its extended position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,942 Spear Jan. 5, 1954 2,788,058 Luckhardt Apr. 9, 1957 2,808,827 OHara Oct. 8, 1957 2,888,978 Schliephacke June 2, 1958 2,892,485 Schliephacke June 30, 1959 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959