US3163464A

US3163464A - Mechanism for recliner-rocker type of chair

Info

Publication number: US3163464A
Application number: US302962A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard L Martin; Frank M Re
Original assignee: Dual Manufacturing and Engineering Inc
Current assignee: Dual Manufacturing and Engineering Inc
Priority date: 1963-08-19
Filing date: 1963-08-19
Publication date: 1964-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-29

Description

Dec. 29, 1964 L. 1.. MARTIN ETAL 3,163,454

MECHANISM FOR RECLINER-ROCKER TYPE OF CHAIR Filed Aug. 19, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. LEONARD L.MARTIN FRANK M. RE

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 29, 1964 MARTIN ETAL MECHANISM F OR RECLINER-ROCKER TYPE OF CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1963 INVENTORS LEONARD L. MARTIN FRANK M RE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 29, 1964 L- MARTIN ETAL MECHANISM FOR RECLINER-ROCKER TYPE OF CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 19, 1963 INVENTO S. LEONARD L. MARTIN FRANK M. RE

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 29, 1964 MARTIN ETAL MECHANISM FOR RECLINER-ROCKER TYPE OF CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 19, 1963 ATTORNEY m m w; TM ML 1 D R A N O E L FRANK M. RE

United States Fatent 3,163,464 MECHANifrh l FOR RECLlNER-RUCKER TYPE 9F CHAER Leonard L. Martin, Ludlow, and Frank M. Re, Holyoke,

Mass, assignors to Baal Manufacturing and Engineering incorporated, Holyolte, Mass.

Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 302362 4 Claims. (Cl. 29785) 1 This invention relates to combination rocker-recliner chairs and more particularly to an operating mechanism cooperant with a rocker base and a rockable chassis and seat and back-rest and leg-rest of a chair of the rockerrecliner type.

The concept of the invention envisions a mechanism which is adaptable for interengagement with certain of the above itemized chair components to allow novel articulated movements of certain of the chair components.

The concept further comprehends, as one component of the structure, a fully-articulated, two part, fold-away type of foot stool or leg-rest, and as other related components, a seat and back-rest, each together with the leg-rest, mounted relative to a rockable chassis, which chassis is rockably supported upon a rocker base, with the seat and back-rest and leg-rest being interrelated by a linkage system such as to allow smooth movements of the movable components into and out of various reclining positions.

Additionally, the concept envisions a chassis mounted upon a rocker base so as to be rockable relative thereto, when the chair components are in the upright-sitting position.

In general, a leg-rest unit, as a component of the rocking chair, is supported by a linkage mechanism designed to produce combined motions in translation and rotation to shift the position and attitude of the leg-rest unit between a retracted position, at the front of the chair, and an extended posiiton spaced from and forwardly of the seat and disposed generally in parallelism with or at a preselected angle relative to the main plane of the seat.

Means are also provided, cooperatively associated with the aforesaid leg-rest linkage mechanism, for precluding any rocking motion in any preselected reclining position. As a result, the user may employ the chair as a rocker with the leg-rest unit in retracted position, from which position, he may extend the leg-rest unit and recline in the chair to a position established by his and the chairs weight distribution. i

It is one of the primary objects hereof to provide chair of the rockable and reclinable types with cooperant operating mechanism wherewith leg-rest and reclinable seat and back-rest elements are movable coordinately between their respective positions assumed when the chair is in the so-called upright-sitting, leg-rest-retracted, position and when the chair is in the so-called fully-reclined, leg-rest-extended, position and amultiplicity of intermediate: reclined positions therebetween.

Another salient object hereof is to provide in an improved chair, a two-part leg-supporting unit constituted ting, leg-rest retracted position, and with the side panel by major and minor leg-rest elements which may be of the supporting frame work of the rockable chassis on the near side of the chair having been removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the linkage mechanism of the chair shown in FIG. 1, with the mechanism being shown in the intermediate-reclined or TV position, and with certain of the chair components having been removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 2,

. with the linkage mechanism being shown in the fullyreclined position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view of the linkage mechanism shown in FIG. 3, with certain portions being omitted for purposes of clarity.

For ease in reference, the chair, as viewed in all of the figures, will be considered with the forward face or front of the chair appearing at the left and the rearward face or rear of the chair appearing at the right, and, for purposes of orientation, forward as used herein will be understood to mean toward the left and rearward will be understood to mean toward the right.

The chair, constituting the disclosed embodiment of the invention, comprises a rockable chassis 10, a seat 12, a separate back-rest 14, and a rocker base 15.

At either side of the chair, an arcuate rocker 4 is secured to the respective side wall of the chassis and rockable upon the upper planar surface of the adjacent rail of the rocker base 15.

Each rocker 4 is interassociated with rocker base 15 by a double compression spring mechanism, generally designated by 5, in the normal platform-rocker manner.

It will be understood, with reference to seat 12, that same is constituted by a pair of parallel side rails interjoined at their forwardmost and rearwardmost ends by a forward and rearward cross rail respectively, and which may be further interjoined by intermediate cross rails, all for the improved support of the usual cooperant springs, padding, and covering components.

Likewise, back-rest 14 is constituted by a pair of parallel side rails interjoined by a plurality of strategicallylocated cross rails, in conventional manner.

Seat 12 and back-rest 14 will be pivotally secured relative to each other and cooperantly will constitute what will be referred to as a body-supporting sub-assembly and same will be understood to have a pivotal relationship to rockable chassis 10. g

A linkage mechanism, now to be described, will be understood to constitute one of a pair, there being one such linkage mechanism at each side of the body-supporting sub-assembly inwardly of the respective adjacent side of the rockable chassis so as to be concealed from view.

The linkage mechanism, as viewed in FIG. 1, is stationarily mounted on a stretcher or cross rail 15 which is extendable transversely relative to and between the inner faces of the opposite side walls of rockable chassis 10, said stretcher being rigidly secured to said side walls.

A generally horizontally-disposed base bracket 18 extends along the front-to-rear dimension of the chair and is stationarily fixed adjacent its forwardmost extremity by means'of an offset web portion 19 to the top planar surface of stretcher 16 as by screws 20 or equivalent, and is secured adjacent its rearwardmost extremity to the adjacent portion of the coplanar-disposed side wall of the rockable chassis 10 as by a screw 21 or equivalent securing means.

Extending upwardly from and integral with the forwardmost end face of base bracket 18, a linkage mechanism stop 24 is strategically provided for limiting the linkage mechanism movement, as will appear.

A seat bracket 26, also extending in a front-to-rear dimension of the chair, is stationarily secured to the lower edge of the adjacent side rail of seat 12, as by screws 28.

A leg-rest stop 39 extends transversely relative to and outwardly from seat bracket 26 near the forward extremity thereof for limiting leg-rest movement, as will hereinafter be made clear. Said leg-rest stop may be secured to said seat bracket by any conventional means so as to be unitary therewith and'conceivably may even comprise an offset portion of seat bracket 26.

A back link 32, having the general configuration of a boomerang, has an upper-arm portion stationarily secured to the adjacent side rail of back-rest 14 as by screws 34, and a lower forwardly-extending arm portion 32' pivotally secured near its forward extremity to seat bracket 26 near the rearward extremity thereof as by a pivotal connecting pin 36, thereby allowing articulated movement of seat 12 and back-rest 14 relative to each other.

' Seat 12 and back-rest 14 are pivotally supported for articulated movement relative to rockable chassis by means of a primary pivot link 38 of generally dog-leg or sickle configuration which is pivotally connected near its upper extremity to back link 32 as by a pivotal connecting pin 40 and is pivotally connected near its lower extremity to base bracket 18, as by a pivotal connecting pin 42, thus allowing a pivotal relationship between the rockable chassis and the seat and back-rest.

Seat 12 and back-rest 14 are additionally pivotally supported relative to rockable chassis 10 through a secondary pivot link 44 and a tertiary pivot link 46, more fully to be described hereinafter.

Before proceeding with further recitation of the linkage mechanism, it is to be explained that a two-part, foldaway leg-supporting unit or leg-rest, generally indicated by 50, is constituted by a major leg-rest element 52 and a minor leg-rest element 54 pivotally inter'engaged.

Leg-rest 50 is mounted, by means of the linkage mecha- 1 nism, relative to the forward end of seat 12 for movements between a fully-retracted position, as viewed in FIG. 1, and a fully-extended position, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, and intermediate positions therebetween.

In said fully-retracted position, which is the fullyupright or sitting position of the chair, major leg-rest element 52 will be positioned substantially flush with the forwardly-facing vertical front rail of seat 12, while the cooperant minor leg-rest element 54 will be positioned so as to extend rearwardly from adjacent the lower end of the major leg-rest element and concealed from view beneath the seat and behind the major leg-rest element.

As will appear, when major leg-rest element 52 is elevated and advanced to any extended position, cooperant minor leg-rest element 54 is moved accordingly therewith, it being pivotally interconnected thereto, as aforesaid. When the major leg-rest element is in fully-extended position, the minor leg-rest element will have moved to a position forwardly of and in axial alignment with the major leg-rest element, as best observed in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Leg-rest 50 is suspended, relative to seat 12, by means of the aforementioned tertiary pivot link 46 and a pair of actuator links, identified as a primary actuator link 56- and a secondary actuator link 58.

Tertiary pivot link 46 is pivoted adjacent its uppermost extremity to seat bracket 26 as by a pivotal connecting pin 60 and adjacent its lowermost extremity to primary actuator link 56 adjacent the lowermost rear'wardly-facing extremity thereof, as by a pivotal connecting pin 62.

Secondary actuator link 58 is pivoted, adjacent its upper extremity, to seat bracket 26 as by a pivotal connecting pin 64 disposed forwardly of pivotal connecting pin 6'9, is pivoted at its midsection to the midsection of primary actuator link 56 as by a pivotal connecting pin 66, and is pivoted adjacent its lower extremity to a primary lifter link 7 0 as by a pivotal connecting pin 68.

By means of a pivotal connecting pin 72, primary lifter link 70 is pivoted adjacent its forward extremity to a major leg-rest support plate 74 fixed to and extending rearwardly outwardly from the rearward face of major leg-rest element 52 as by screws 76.

Primary lifter link 70 is pivoted at its approximate midsection as by a pivotal connecting pin 78 to the approximate midsection of a secondary lifter link 89.

Secondary lifter link 80 is pivoted adjacent its upper extremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 82 to adjacent the upper extremity of primary actuator link 56 and is pivoted adjacent its lower extremity as by a pivotal con necting pin 84 to adjacent the lower extremity of a primary control link 99, said primary control link in turn being pivoted adjacent its forward extremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 92 to a minor leg-rest support plate 94 which is fixed to the rearward or inner face of minor legrest element 54 as'by screws 95.

Major and minor leg-

rest support plates

74 and 94 respectively are articulately interlinked by a pivotal connecting pin 96, wherewith corresponding articulated movement between the major and minor leg-rest elements is allowed.

A secondary control link is pivoted adjacent one of its ends as by a pivotal connecting pin 102 to major legrest support plate 74 and is pivoted adjacent its opposite end as by a pivotal connecting pin 104 to primary control link 90.

Rearward movement of leg-rest 5t), beyond the retracted position shown in FIG. 1, is precluded by the abutment of an edge of primary lifter link 70 against the adjacent edge of the vertically co-planar primary actuator link 56, a positive stop action being assured by virtue of the configuration of primary lifter link 70, its upper edge being flattened as at 1% adjacent the lower extremity of the said link and the configuration of the adjacent lower edge of primary actuator link56 which is provided with a complemental longitudinally-extending notch 168. In chair upright position, flat 106 is receivable in notch 108, wherewith said positive stop action is realized.

A braking device is provided in the form of a leg-rest friction plate 109 which has a lowermost projecting tail portion 110 which is secured relative to secondary actuator link 58 as by the pivotal connecting

pins

68 and 66.

The main body portion of said leg-rest friction plate is provided with an arcuate edge 109, for purposes to appear.

A friction link 113 is secured relative to primary actuator link 56'as by pivotal connecting pin 66 and a bolt 115 extendable through said friction link and an aligned opening in said primary actuator link, said bolt having a cooperant spring washer 117 and nut 119 received thereupon. H

Therewith, movement of leg-rest 50 in leg-rest extending direction is variably controlled according to the weights of the individual chair occupants.

A rise bar 111 interconnects the previously described leg-rest portion of the linkage mechanism to rockable chassis 10 by means of tertiary pivot link 46 which is pivoted at its midsection to adjacent a forward portion of the rise bar as by a pivotal connecting pin 112. Said rise bar rotates on a pivotal connecting pin 114 located adjacent the rise bar rearward extremity, by means of which the rise bar is interconnected to base bracket 18 and is rotatable relative thereto.

The lower edge or face of rise bar 111 is provided,

7 adjacent its forward extremity, with a recess 116 adapted to receive mechanism stop 24 in abutting relationship to preclude any downward movement of the rise bar and hence of the entire linkage mechanism beyond a predetermined limit as dictated by the relationship of parts in the chair upright position.

An elevator link 120 is pivoted to rise bar 111 intermediate the length thereof as by a pivotal connecting pin 122 and is provided with an arcuately-configured forwardly and upwardly-facing edge 124, which edge terminates adjacent its rearmost extremity in an offset lip or flange portion 126 which extends radially outwardly beyond and transversely relative to edge 124. Lip portion 126 functions as a stop, when the chair is in fully-reclined position, being engageably received within a notch 128 strategically provided in the upper edge of rise bar 111.

An upset in rise bar 111, adjacent edge 124 of elevator link 120, is so formed as to define an olfset friction finger 130. The outer free extremity of friction finger 130 and rise bar 111 are coplanar and define a space therebetween in which is receivable elevator link 120, one planar face of the elevator link being flush with the adjacent inner planar face of the rise bar, and the other planar face thereof being flush with the adjacent inner planar face of the friction finger.

A bolt 132, extendable laterally through a suitable opening in friction finger 136, has a nut 134 threadedly engageable therewith and tightenable against a spring washer 136 sleeved on said bolt in manner to bridge the rise bar opening resultant from the upsetting in forming the friction finger and to be positionable firmly and flush against the rise bar outermost planar face. Being springlike in nature, washer 136 spring loads the friction finger.

Nut 134, tightened against washer 136, will draw friction finger 139 inwardly in manner to increase frictional engagement between elevator link 1213 and rise bar 111. Conversely, nut 134 may be loosened, wherefore frictional engagement between the elevator link and rise bar is decreased.

Nut 134 and washer 135, cooperantly with friction finger 130, constitute an adjustable braking mechanism wherewith the force or weight required to move both seat and back-rest to one of a plurality of reclining positions may be varied, in accordance with the specific desires or requirements of a particular chair occupant.

A lowermost, outwardly-projecting, portion of elevator link 120 defines a tail 138 which may be pivoted adjacent its outer extremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 140 to adjacent the lowermost extremity of secondary pivot link 44. The secondary pivot link in turn is pivoted adjacent its uppermost extremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 142 to seat bracket 26.

A limit link 150, pivoted adjacent its lower extremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 152 to base bracket 18 and pivoted adjacent its upper extremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 154 to elevator link 120, functions to limit angularization of the body-supporting sub-assembly in the fully-reclined position.

Any rocking movement of chassis relative to rocker base 15, While the chair is in the positions of FIGS. 2 or 3 or positions therebetween, is precluded by a linkage system now to be described.

A stop actuating link 160 is pivoted at 162 to primary pivot link 38 adjacent the lower end thereof and at 164 at its forward end to the upper end of a guiding link 17% which is in 'turn pivoted at its lower end at 172 to base bracket 18.

The lower end of stop actuating link 160 is pivoted at 174 to a roller link 180 adjacent the rnidsection thereof.

Roller link 18% is pivoted at its upper end at 182 to the rearward end of a cross link 1% which is pivoted at its forward end at 192 to base bracket 18.

moves stop actuating link 160 rearwardly through the pivotal connection 162, whereupon the upper end of roller link 1811 is caused to pivot at 182 relative to cross link 190.

Roller link 180 continues to swing, being guided by guiding link 1711, until roller 184 contacts the upper surface of rocker base 15 which may conveniently have a bearing plate 200 fixed thereto as by screws 2112 or equivalent upon which bearing plate said roller 184 may ride.

Contact of roller 184 with hearing plate 200 on rocker base 15, precludes rocking of the chassis 110 relative to said rocker base when the chair is in the intermediate or fully-reclined positions or positions therebetween.

As the chair is moved between the intermediate reclining position of FIG. 2 and the fully-reclined position of FIG. 3, roller 134 rolls along relative to hearing plate 22d, still effectively precluding rocking of the chassis 10.

When the chair is in fully-upright position with leg-rest Sil retracted, major leg-rest element 52 being positioned flush with the forward face of seat 12 and minor leg-rest element 54 being disposed rearwardly, rise bar 111 will be observed to rest on stop 24 with friction finger 130 and bolt 132 being disposed adjacent the lower end of edge 124 of elevator link 120. From this position, it is possible for the chair occupant to move to an intermediate reclined position, by causing a rearwardly-directed component of force to bear upon back-rest 14 in manner to cause the seat and back-rest to move in substantially rearward directions relative to stretcher 16 by the coordinated swinging movements of primary pivot link 38 and secondary pivot link 44 and tertiary pivot link 46, each upon its respective pivotal connecting pin.

In the course of any movement from upright position to a reclined position and with the leg-rest extended, the primary and secondary and tertiary pivot links and the secondary actuator link pivot unisonly (in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1) concomitantly with movement of seat bracket 26 and the body-supporting assemblage.

Rotation of tertiary pivot link 46 urges primary actuator link 56 forwardly and upwardly, so as simultaneously to urge secondary actuator link 58 forwardly and upwardly thereby to cause a corresponding movement of primary lifter link 70, all whereby major leg-rest support plate 74 and major leg-rest element 52 are motivated into the extended generally-horizontally disposed position.

Similarly, rotation of primary actuator link 56 imparts a corresponding rotation to secondary lifter link whereby primary and secondary control links and respectively are moved forwardly and outwardly to urge the minor leg-rest support plate to pivot relative to the major leg-rest support plate.

A smooth swinging motion of minor leg-rest support plate 94 is assured by the constraining action of secondary control link 1190 on forward movement of primary control link 90 as it motivates the minor leg-rest support plate into axial alignment with the major leg-rest support plate, all wherewith the major and minor leg-rest elements are disposed in axial alignment as to each other when the chair is in a semi-reclined position, as in FIG. 2, or is in a fully-reclined position, as in FIG. 3.

In such leg-rest extending movement sequence, rise bar 111 has not changed its generally-horizontal position relative to base bracket 18 and continues to rest on stop 24, even though leg-rest 50 is now fully-extended while the forward edge of secondary actuator link 58 abuts stop 30 on seat bracket 26 to preclude further leg-rest extension, and roller 184 on roller link 1811 now contacts bearing plate 21311 on rocker base 15 to preclude rocking of chassis 10 relative to said rocker base.

The occupant may position the body-supporting sub-assembly at any position of reclination between the positions of FIGS. 1 and 2, with a concomitant partial extension of the leg-rest, ample leg support being provided by major leg-rest element 52.

To reach fully-reclined position from a semi-reclined position, the chair occupant need but once again bring additional rearward pressure to bear upon back-rest 14 as by pushing with the hands upon the arms of the chair, whereupon the forward end of rise bar 111 will be urged upwardly by tertiary pivot link 46 through pivotal connecting pin 112 to cause the rise bar to swing on its pivotal connecting pin 114. During such movement, secondary actuator link 58 will continue to abut stop 30 on seat bracket 26, thereby precluding any further leg-rest extension, and roller 184 will continue to ride on hearing plate 200 precluding rocking of the chassis 10.

As back-rest 14 is further angularized, seat 12 and seat bracket 26 are urged generally upwardly by toe portion 32' of back link 32 through the pivotal connection 36, and the lower end of tail 138 is pulled upwardly by secondary pivot link 44 through its pivotal connecting pin 140, whereupon elevator link 1% is caused to pivot relative to rise bar 111 on its pivotal connecting pin 122 until flange 126 becomes engaged in rise bar notch 123 to preclude further rotation of elevator link I20.

Friction finger 130 controls the ease of rotation of elevator link 126 upon pivotal connecting pin 122 depending upon the tension set up in the friction finger by the adjustment of nut 134 relative to bolt 132 and Washer 136. By this simple adjustment, coupled with the rise of the seat, any objectionable sensation of falling is precluded.

The occupant may return the chair from the fully-reclined to the semi-reclined position, with the leg-rest remaining extended, by exerting a slight downward pressure upon seat 12, or simply by bringing the shoulders away from the back-rest of the chair, causing rise bar 111 to move downwardly into contact with stop 24 and causing secondary pivot link 44 to exert a downward pressure upon tail 138 of elevator link 120 whereupon the elevator link rotates upon its pivotal connecting pin 122 so that the arcuate edge 12.4 moves upwardly relative to friction finger 130 and bolt 132.

Alternatively, the occupant may return directly to the fully-upright position by exerting a slight downward prcssure of the heels upon the leg-rest.

By the novel interconnection between rise bar 111, secondary and tertiary pivot links 44 and 46 respectively, and elevator link 120, the reclining movements of the body-supporting sub-assembly are smooth and effortless and are perfectly controlled and balanced and coordinated.

On returning to the intermediate reclining position of FIG. 2 from the fully-reclined position of FIG. 3, roller 184 moves forwardly along bearing plate 200, roller link 180 having maintained its substantially downwardly extended position, wherefor chassis has maintained at relatively fixed relationship to rocker base 15.

On return from the position of FIG. 2 to the upright or rocking position of FIG. 1, roller 184 is swung upwardly away from rocker base to its retracted position rearwardly of rocker 4, whereupon rocking movement of rockable chassis 10 relative to rocker base 15 once again becomes possible.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that certain omissions or changes may be made therein, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim: I

1. In a rocker-recliner chair inclusive of a rocker base and a chassis rockably mounted thereupon and a body supporting sub-assembly including a back-rest and a seat pivotal relative to each other and to the chassis and with the body-supporting sub-assembly being shiftable between a primary upright sitting position and a multiplicity of secondary reclining positions, the improvement in position-attaining means comprising: a leg-supporting means, a linkage system for supporting the body-supporting subshifting movements of the body-supporting sub-assembly and including a rise bar pivotally interconnecting said leg-supporting mean-s and the chassis and an elevator link pivotally interconnected to said rise bar and a stop means carried by said elevator link and rise bar and brake means carried by said rise bar for frictionally interengaging said elevator link and rise bar, said brake means cooperating with said elevator link and rise bar and stop means for effecting control of the shifting movements of the bodysupporting sub-assembly, and means cooper-ant with said linkage system and including a roller link responsive to movement of said linkage system and a roller carried by said roller link-and rollable into bearing contact upon the rocker base as the body-supporting sub-assembly is shifted relative to the chassis for effecting preclusion of the rocking of the chassis in any secondary position of the body-supporting sub-assembly.

2. In a combination rocker-recliner chair including a rocker base and a chassis rockably mounted on the rocker base and a body-supporting sub-assembly including a back-rest and a seat pivotal relative to each other and to the chassis, the improvement in means for mounting the body-supporting sub-assembly for movement between a sitting position and an intermediate reclined position and a fully reclined position and positions therebetween comprising: a leg-rest, a system of linkage formoving said leg-rest between a stored position adjacent the seat of the sub-assembly and a position forwardly thereof in coordination with the reclining movement of the bodysupporting sub-assembly and including: a rise bar pivotally interlinking said leg-rest and the chassis, an elevator link pivotally connected to said rise bar, stop means, and adjustable brake means integral with said rise bar for frictionally interengaging said elevator link and rise bar, said brake means in connection with said elevator link being adapted to control the ease and range and rate of reclining movement of the body-supporting sub-assembly, and means cooperant and operable in concert with said system of linkage and including a roller carried by a roller link pivotally interconnected with said system of linkage and with the roller of said means being movable into a relationship of bearing contact upon the rocker base as the body-supporting sub-assembly is moved relative to the chassis for precluding the rocking of the chassis with respect to the rocker base in any of the reclined positions of the body-supporting sub-assembly.

3. In a platform rocker type of chair, the combination including: a rocker base, a chassis rockably supported upwardly of said rocker base, a body-supporting sub-assembly including a back-rest and seat pivotally mounted for tilting movement relative to each other and to said chassis, a leg-rest, a system of interconnected links supported on said chassis and pivotally supporting the seat and backrest of said body-supporting sub-assembly and said legrest for moving said leg-rest between a retracted position adjacent said body-supporting sub-assembly and projected positions forwardly of said body-supporting sub-assembly, and roller means constituted by a roller link pivotally interconnected to and cooperant with said system of links and operable in concert therewith and a roller rotatably mounted upon said roller link for rolling into bearing relationship upon said rocker base and locking said chassis against rocking relative to said rocker base when said body-supporting unit is tilted relative to said chassis.

4. In a rocker-recliner chair the combination of, a rocker base, a chassis mounted on and rockable relative to said rocker base, a body-supporting sub-assembly including a seat and a backrest pivotal relative to each other, a leg-rest, a linkage system of interconnected links 9 for mounting said body-supporting sub-assembly for shifting movements of the seat and back-rest between upright sitting position and reclined position and intermediate reclined positions therebetwee-n relative to said chassis and rocker base and for moving said leg-rest between stored position adjacent the seat of said body-supporting sub-assembly and projected position forwardly of the seat coordinately with shifting movements of said body-supporting sub-assembly and including: a rise bar pivotally interlinking said leg-rest and said chassis, an elevator link pivotally connected to said rise bar, brake means integral with said rise bar and frictionally engageable with said elevator link; said brake means eooperantly with said elevator link constituting a means for controlling movements of said body-supporting sub-assembly relative to said chassis, and roller means operable in concert with said linkage system for precluding rocking of said chassis in other than the upright sitting position of said bodysnpporting subaassembly and constituted by a roller link movable responsively to movement of said linkage system and a roller rotatably mounted thereon, the roller of said 10 roller means being movable into contacting relationship upon said rocker base responsive to movement of said linkage system as said body supporting sub-assembly is moved relative to said chassis and out of upright sitting position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 11,906 4/01 Harmon 297291 X 1,688,576 10/28 Doyle 297 2,698,649 1/55 Hopkes 297269 2,746,519 5/56 Krikorian 297-269 2,838,093 6/58 Bank et a1. 29775 2,951,528 9/60 Maurer 297266 3,065,828 11/62 Caldemeyer 297269 X 3,069,201 12/62 Belisle et a1. 297 3,075,810 1/63 Kitsopoulds 297270 3,114,573 12/63 Mizelle 29775 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A ROCKER-RECLINER CHAIR INCLUSIVE OF A ROCKER BASE AND A CHASSIS ROCKABLY MOUNTED THEREUPON AND A BODYSUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BACK-REST AND A SEAT PIVOTAL RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE CHASSIS AND WITH THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY BEING SHIFTABLE BETWEEN A PRIMARY UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION AND A MULTIPLICITY OF SECONDARY RECLINING POSITIONS, THE IMPROVEMENT IN POSITION-ATTAINING MEANS COMPRISING: A LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS, A LINKAGE SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUBASSEMBLY IN ITS SHIFTING MOVEMENTS AND FOR MOUNTING SAID LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS RELATIVE TO THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUBASSEMBLY AND FOR MOVING SAID LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS BETWEEN RETRACTED POSITION ADJACENT THE SEAT OF THE BODYSUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY AND PROJECTED POSITION FORWARDLY THEREOF AND DISTANTLY THEREFROM COORDINATELY WITH THE SHIFTING MOVEMENTS OF THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY AND INCLUDING A RISE BAR PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS AND THE CHASSIS AND AN ELEVATOR LINK PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID RISE BAR AND A STOP MEANS CARRIED BY SAID ELEVATOR LINK AND RISE BAR AND BRAKE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID RISE BAR FOR FRICTIONALLY INTERENGAGING SAID ELEVATOR LINK AND RISE BAR, SAID BRAKE MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID ELEVATOR LINK AND RISE BAR AND STOP MEANS FOR EFFECTING CONTROL OF THE SHIFTING MOVEMENTS OF THE BODYSUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY, AND MEAN COOPERANT WITH SAID LINKAGE SYSTEM AND INCLUDING A ROLLER LINK RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID LINKAGE SYSTEM AND A ROLLER CARRIED BY SAID ROLLER LINK AND ROLLABLE INTO BEARING CONTACT UPON THE ROCKER BASE AS THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY IS SHIFTED RELATIVE TO THE CHASSIS FOR EFFECTIVE PRECLUSION OF THE ROCKING OF THE CHASSIS IN ANY SECONDARY POSITION OF THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY.