US3074759A - Reclining chair - Google Patents

Description

22, 1953 H. o. BERGENWALL 3,074,759

RECLINING CHAIR Filed March 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RECLINING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1960 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofifice $374,759 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 3,074,759 RECMNHNG CHAIR Henning 0. Bergenwall, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, as-

signor to Merex Furniture Company Limited, Toronto, Gntario, Canada, a corporation of Ontario Filed Mar. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 15,169 2 Claims. (Cl. 291-318) This invention relates to improvements in convertible reclining chairs and more particularly to improvements in reclining chairs incorporating automatically adjustable foot rests, adapted to be converted into full length reclining couches.

Various types of reclining chairs with adjustable foot rests have been produced, some of these having the disadvantage that a locking device, adapted to lock the reclining chair combination in various positions, is incorporated, requiring the user to vacate the chair in order to alter the reclining angle of the chair.

Another disadvantage in conventional reclining chairs lies in the diificulty of motivating the chair through various angles of inclination from a relaxed or recumbent position in the chair.

Another disadvantage lies in the lack of uniformity of weight distribution experienced in conventional types of reclining chairs, such lack of uniformity of weight distribution being particularly marked in the ratio of leg sup port area relative to the angle of inclination of the reclining chair, the conventional foot rest end of a reclining chair normally having a fixed angular relation to the rest of the reclining chair, independent of eventual position of the legs of the user.

It is an object of this invention to provide a reclining chair in combination with an automatically adjustable foot rest in the following called reclining chair adapted to support the weight of body and legs of the user uniformly through any angle of inclination from the horizontal to the vertical.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reclining chair, in which the user may adjust the position of the reclining chair manually while seated therein.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chair in which the incorporated automatically adjustable foot rest may provide full support for the complete leg portion resting thereon independently of the position of the rest of the body.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chair in which the automatically adjustable foot rest is adapted to double as a coffee table.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a re clining chair in which the automatically adjustable foot rest, through simple locking means located on the adjustable portion thereof, permits the foot rest to be converted into a stool.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chair adapted to be converted into a horizontal couch simply by manual manipulation of a locking lever and exerting pressure upon the upper portion of the back rest of the reclining chair, such pressure being exerted thereon by the user while seated therein.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chair that upon being located in the chair position, in which the back rest is substantially vertical, permits the seat portion to slant backwards at an angle to the horizontal position, yet is adapted to bring the seat portion up to a horizontal position upon the back portion of the reclining chair being laid down into a horizontal position, the seat and back portion thereby being brought into the same plane.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reclining chair adapted to be manufactured from light material, such as tubes thereby lending itself to very easy transportation.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the seat and back rest portion of a reclining chair embodying this invention, illustrating particularly the method of attaching the swivelable back rest and the movable seat to each other and to the tubular frame of the system.

PEG. 2 is a perspective view of the automatically adjust able foot rest portion of a reclining chair embodying this invention, shown with the padded surface of the foot rest plate upwards, locked in horizontal position adapted to be used as a stool.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the hinging arrangement between the back rest portion and the seat portion of the reclining chair.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the hinging arrangement shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view one configuration of the automatically adjustable foot rest portion of a reclining chair embodied in this invention, illustrating one method of incorporating locking device means adapted to lock the support plate of the foot rest in horizontal position, either in stool position with padded portion upwards or in table position with a solid table surface upwards.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the seat looking device shown in FIG. 1 illustrating particularly one method of utilizing a rack locking device to lock various reclining positions of the seat and backrest portion of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a reclining c'hair embodying this invention showing the reclining chair with its back rest portion in substantially vertical position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the reclining chair shown in FIG. 7 upon the seat and back rest portion of the reclining chair having been brought into substantially horizontal position for use as a couch.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the automatically adjustable foot rest portion embodied in this invention, shown with the solid table surface of the support plate facing upwards and locked in horizontal position.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of an alternate method of providing locking means for locking the support plate of the foot rest incorporated in this invention.

Referring first to FIG. 1 the frame work of the seat and back rest portion of a reclining chair embodying this invention is shown comprising two chassis side portions 1 and 2 attached rigidly to each other by means of chassis cross bars 3 and 4. A back rest frame 5 is hingeably attached to cross bar 3 through bearing means 6 and 7 located on frame 5 a short distance from lower extreme ends 8 and 9 of frame 5.

A seat frame 10 is hingeably attached by its rear end to extreme lower ends 8 and 9 of back rest portion 5 at hinge location 11 and 12 as shown, the forward end of the seat frame 10 being adapted to rest on rollers 13 and 14 through wedge shaped elevator blocks 15 and 16 as shown.

Locking means are provided, adapted to locate and selectively lock back rest frame 5 and seat frame 10 in any required position ranging from substantially upright position of back rest frame 5 through to substantially horizontal position of back rest frame 5, such locking means in this configuration comprising a toothed rack 17 located on one side of wedge block 16, rack 17 being adapted to engage a tooth 18 located on lever 19, lever 19 being pivotably attached to chassis side 2 at 20, and extending into handle 21, lever 19 being adapted to maintain engagement of tooth 18 in rack 17 by spring means in conventional manner.

The padded portion of the seat and the padded portion of the back rest have (in this FIG. 1) been left out for the purpose of clarification of the movable parts as described above.

It will be noted that seat frame 10 in the illustrated position is slanted downwards towards the rear end thereof, to provide a comfortable angle of the seat portion, adapted to provide a suitable resting angle for the benefit of a person seated in the reclining chair. The back rest frame 5 is at the same time located at a slight angle with the vertical, suitable to facilitate relaxation of the user of the reclining chair.

Upon handle 21 being motivated upwards, tooth 18 will disengage rack 17 whereupon the user of the reclining chair, while seated therein, may exert pressure backwards on the upper end of back rest frame 5, easily forcing this downwards, this motion, through pivotable actio-n of bearings 6 and 7 on cross bar 3, being adapted to force seat frame 10 forwards, at the same time raising the rear end 2'2 of seat frame 10 upwards, whilst the user is seated thereon, this being made possible by the difference in leverage between the portion of back rest frame 5 located above cross bar 3, in relation to the portion of back rest frame 5 located below cross bar 3.

The inclination of the lower side of wedged shaped blocks 'and 16, which are adapted to roll on rollers 13 and 14, to prevent wear on underside of blocks 15 and 16 and at the same time facilitate forward movement of seat frame 11 through reduced friction, is of a size suitable in conjunction with upward movement of rear end 22 of seat frame 10, to bring seat frame 10 into substantially the same plane as back rest frame 5, upon back rest frame 5 attaining a horizontal position.

Upon wishing to motivate the back portion 5 from a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, the user requires only to exert vertical upward pull on lever 21for instance while seated in the reclining chair, thereby disengaging tooth 18 from rack 17, lift the weight of his back from back rest frame 5, and deposit his weight on seat portion 10 in a location close to rear end 22 thereof, whereby back rest portion 5 will be forced up into a substantially vertical position, the required position being locked upon release of handle 21 through re-engagement of tooth 18 in rack 17.

Referring to FIG. 2, the automatically adjustable foot rest portion of this invention is illustrated comprising a base frame 23, having swivelably attached thereto a reversible support plate 24 having a cushioned surface 25 on one side thereof and a hard flat surface 26 on the reverse side thereof.

Plate portion 24 is swivelably attached, transversely of base frame 23, at 27 and 28. Slideable lock handles 29 and 36, located on each side of plate portion 24 respectively, are adapted to slideably engage and lock plate portion 24 in either of its two reversible horizontal positions.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 a detailed view of hingeable attachment of back rest frame 5 and seat frame 10 is illustrated, showing particularly stop means 31 and 32, adapted to limit swivelably movement of back rest portion 5, upon this being lowered to a horizontal position or upon this being raised to a substantially vertical position respectively.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5 a detailed perspective View of one method of incorporating locking means in the automatically adjustable foot rest portion is shown, comprising a handle portion 29 adapted to be slideably located on transverse dovetail guide 33, that is rigidly attached to base frame 23, on one or both sides thereof, inner edge 34 of handle 29 being adapated to be slideably motivated to locate in close parallel relation above block 35 located rigidly on side of plate 24, handle 29 thereby being adapted to selectively lock and hold plate 24 in any of two horizontal positions, handle 29 conversely being adapted to permit swivelable action of plate 24 upon handle 29 being slideably disengaged from contact with lock 35.

Referring to FIG. 6 a detail of the rack locking mecha nism illustrated in FIG. 1 shows particularly method of resting Wedge block 16 on roller 14 and one method of attaching spring means 36, to activate lever 19 towards rack 17.

Referring to FIG. 7 method of utilizing reclining chair in combination with the automatically adjustable foot rest in sitting position is shown illustrating particularly the adaptability of support plate 24 to adjust itself to the angle of leg 37 of the resting person 38.

Referring to FIG. 8 the reclining chair embodying this invention illustrated in FIG. 7 is shown, upon the back rest frame 5 having been lowered to an almost horizontal position illustrating particularly the adaptability of plate portion 24 of the automatically adjustable foot rest embodied in this invention, to provide full support for the complete leg portion 37 of person 38.

Referring to FIG. 9, support plate 24 of automatically adjustable foot rest portion is shown with the solid fiat reverse side 26 of support plate 24 upwards, locked in horizontal position, adapted to provide for instance a coffee table for the user of the back rest and seat portion of the reclining chair.

Referring to FIG. 10 an alternate method of locking support plate 24 in two horizontal positions is illustrated comprising a lock housing 39 rigidly attached to base frame 23, having slideably located, and guided within an elongated cavity 40 in housing 39, a pronged slider 41 having two prongs 42 and 43 adapted to selectively and controllably engage with or disengage from two holes 44 and 45 respectively, position of slider 41 being controlled by a rod 46 attached to slider 41, rod 46 protruding at one end through a hole 47 in housing 39 and being supplied with handle knob means 48 externally of housing 39.

Rod 46 may also be utilized as pivot spindle for support plate 24 by permitting end 49 of rod 46 to protrude into a hole 50 within support plate 24, one locking device being located on each of two opposing sides of support plate 24.

Slide 41 is adapted to engage and lock support plate in either of its two reversible horizontal positions.

It will beunderstood that variations in the design of the subject matter of this invention may be made While remaining in the spirit and principles of this invention without prejudicing the novelty thereof.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A reclining chair comprising a chassis, a back rest pivotably attached to said chassis, said back rest extending beyond said pivotable attachment substantially towards the inner portion of said chassis, for a distance substantially less than the portion of said back rest located on the opposing side of said pivotable attachment, a seat hingeably attached by its rear end substantially at the extremity of said shorter extension of said back rest, the forward end of said seat having its underside slidingly located on a cross bar attached to the forward portion of said chassis, said underside supplied with at least one wedge shaped block, said wedge shaped block being located between said seat and said cross bar of said chassis, the smaller end of said wedge being located toward said forward end of said seat, and locking means adapted to controllably lock said slidable seat and said pivotable back rest in any selected sliding or pivotable position respectively, said locking means comprising a toothed rack on said elevating wedge.

5 6 2. A reclining chair as claimed in claim 1 in which References Cited in the file of this patent said locking means comprises a rack located on the UNITED STATES PATENTS underside of said seat, said rack containing teeth adapted to be disengageably and selectively engaged by a tooth 32535 32 5 located on a pivotable lever, said pivotable lever being 5 2512353 Magaldino'era'l 1950 pivotably located on said chassis, said pivotable lever 2659416 Heyman T' 1953 containing handle means adapted to permit manual dis- 2:828:802 i APR 1958 engagement of said tooth in said rack, and spring means 2,369,620 Gleitsman Jan 1959 adapted to engage said tooth in said rack upon manual 2,912,046 Fuerst 10, 5

release of said handle. 2,925,122 Winick Feb. 16, 1960

Claims (1)

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A CHASSIS, A BACK REST PIVOTABLY ATTACHED TO SAID CHASSIS, SAID BACK REST EXTENDING BEYOND SAID PIVOTABLE ATTACHMENT SUBSTANTIALLY TOWARDS THE INNER PORTION OF SAID CHASSIS, FOR A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE PORTION OF SAID BACK REST LOCATED ON THE OPPOSING SIDE OF SAID PIVOTABLE ATTACHMENT, A SEAT HINGEABLY ATTACHED BY ITS REAR END SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE EXTREMITY OF SAID SHORTER EXTENSION OF SAID BACK REST, THE FORWARD END OF SAID SEAT HAVING ITS UNDERSIDE SLIDINGLY LOCATED ON A CROSS BAR ATTACHED TO THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID CHASSIS, SAID UNDERSIDE SUPPLIED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEDGE SHAPED BLOCK, SAID WEDGE SHAPED BLOCK BEING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND SAID CROSS BAR OF SAID CHASSIS, THE SMALLER END OF SAID WEDGE BEING LOCATED TOWARD SAID FORWARD END OF SAID SEAT, AND LOCKING MEANS ADAPTED TO CONTROLLABLY LOCK SAID SLIDABLE SEAT AND SAID PIVOTABLE BACK REST IN ANY SELECTED SLIDING OR PIVOTABLE POSITION RESPECTIVELY, SAID LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING A TOOTHED RACK ON SAID ELEVATING WEDGE.

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