US3243226A - Reclining lounger and hardware therefor - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1966 A. J. KATZ 3,243,226

I HEGLINING LOUNGER AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Filed March 12 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet. 1

ALEX JI KATZ A 7' TORNE X March 29. 1966 A. J. KATZ REGLINING LOUNGER AND HARDWARE THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1964 INVENTOR. ALEX 02 K4 T2 2 'fiTTMZA/E).

March 29, 1966 A. J. KATZ RECLINING LOUNGER AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Filed March 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ALEX J1 KATZ United States Patent 3,243,226 RECLINING LOUNGER AND HARDWARE THEREFOR Alex J. Katz, Orange, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Super Sagless Spring Corporation, Amsterdam, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 351,325 4 Claims. (Cl. 297-85) This invention relates to reclining lounger-rockers, and

hardware therefor.

An object of this invention is to provide a loungerrocker of the character described, provided with highly improved means to block the rocker against rearward rocking movement, automatically upon'moving the seat and backrest from the upright positions thereof to reclining position. Should the backrest and seat be reclined while the rocker is in rocked back condition, the rocker blocking means in accordance with the present invention, will tend to rock the rocker forwardly to upright position.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a lounger-recliner of the character described, overcenter spring means to yieldingly keep the leg rest or ottoman from opening up or the chair from reclining while you rock, and to also modify the rocker action of the platform springs as you rock back and forth, thereby to make for a better rocking action, said overcenter spring means comprising a pull spring which is tensioned as the rocker is rocked back to impart a yielding resistance to rearward rocking in addition to the yielding resistance of the usual platform springs.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improvide hardware for a lounger-rocker of the character described, including a pair of main bell cranks interconnected by a link, means to hold said bell cranks against movement as the ottoman or leg rest is projected 'and the seat and backrest move to an intermediate or TV reclined position, and said bell cranks serving as carriers for the seatwhen you go from TV to fully reclined position for floatingly supporting the seat and raising the seat with a parallelogram motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a chair of the character described, means to block the rocker against rocking movement when the seat is moved and said blocking means being connected directly to the seat so as to be controlled by its movement.

A still further object of this invention is to provide hardware of the character described, having highly improved means to releasably lock said two main bell cranks from moving as the ottoman is projected and the seat and backrest are reclined to TV position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a loungerrocker of the character described, comprising a platform or base, a rocker mounted thereon for rocking movement, a seat pivoted to a backrest which is connected to the rocker by a link means, and said pair of bell cranks being connected to said seat by link means.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a lounger-rocker of the character described, in which one of said main bell cranks is a front bell crank, and means is provided, controlled by the front bell crank to project a leg rest or ottoman as the seat and backrest move from upright to TV position; and in which the other main Patented Mar. 29, 1966 ice bell crank is a rear bell crank and means is provided, controlled by the rear bell crank, to lock the bell cranks from moving as said seat and backrest move from said upright to said TV position, and in which said lock means is released when said seat and backrest reach TV position, to allow movement of said bell cranks, for allowing movement of said seat and backrest to fully reclined position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lounger-rocker of the character described, having means to retain the rocker blocker in operative position as the seat and backrest move from TV position to fully reclined position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable recliner rocker of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, comfortable in use, easy to manipulate without necessity for handles or other hand operated means, and which shall yet be practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a top edge view of one side of a loungerrecliner and hardware therefor embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and showing the central position of the rocker and the upright position of the seat and backrest, with the blocker retracted;

FIG; 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the seat and backrest in TV position and the blocker in operative position to prevent rearward rocking movement of the rocker; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but with the seat and backrest in fully reclined position.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a lounger-recliner chair embodying the invention. Said chair comprises a platform 11 having a pair of longitudinal side parts 12 having upper edges 13 and being interconnected by a front cross-rail 14, a rear rail 15 and a flat horizontal rail 16 extending rearwardly of said rear rail.

Mounted on the platform 11 for rocking movement is a rocker 18 comprising a pair of said arm members 19 interconnected by bottom cross-rail 20, and by rear crossrail 21. Fixed to the side arms 19, in any suitable manner are a pair of rocker cams 23 having lower curved edges resting on the upper edges 13 of the platform, so that the rocker 18 may rock back and forth. Usual platform springs (not shown) are provided interconnecting the platform 11 with the rocker 18 to urge the rocker to central upright position.

Fixed to the inner sides of side arms 19 are support plates 25. Pivoted to the rear end of each plate 25, as at 26, is a link 27. The upper end of each link 27 is pivoted, as at 28, to a bar 29 fixed to the backrest 30. Said backrest 30 has a lower cross-rail 31. Bar 29 is located above cross-rail 31 and is inclined slightly forwardly and upwardly when the backrest 30 is in upright condition, as shown in FIG. 2. Pivoted to the forward end of each bar 29, as at 32, is a seat member 33. Each seat member 33 has a portion 34 inclined forwardly and downwardly when the backrest is in upright condition,

and extending from said portion, is a portion which is inclined forwardly and upwardly. Fixed to said member 33 is a seat frame 36 comprising side frame members 37 interconnected by a front seat frame member 38 and a rear seat frame member 39. A seat cushion or upholstery 40 may be mounted on the seat frame. Said seat frame 36 and its upholstery 40 comprise a seat 41.

The means, to be described in detail hereinafter, for supporting the backrest 30, seat 36 and a leg rest 42, comprises similar, symmetrically disposed hardware mechanisms on both sides of the chair, including the plates 25, links 27, bars 29 and seat members 33. The hardware on one side only will therefore be described hereinafter.

Means is provided to cause the backrest 30 to recline as the seat 41 is moved rearwardly, and also to tilt the front of the seat upwardly and to raise the seat as it moves rearwardly. To this end, there is privoted to the rear of each plate 25, as at 45, a rear bell crank 46 having a downwardly projecting arm 47 and a forwardly extending arm 48.

Pivoted to an intermediate portion of plate 25, as at 49, is a front bell crank 50 having a downwardly extending arm 51 and a forwardly extending arm 52. Pivoted to the lower end of arm 47 or rear bell crank 46, as at 52a, is a link 53, pivoted at its forward end, as at 54, to the lower arm 51 of front bell crank 50.

Pivoted to the front end of arm 48 of rear bell crank 46, as at 55, is a control bell crank 56. Said bell crank 56 has an upwardly extending arm 57 pivoted at its upper end, as at 58, to said portion 34 of seat member 33, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. Bell crank 56 has an arm 59 inclined downwardly and forwardly, when the chair is in the upright position of FIG. 2. Arm 59 is formed with a longitudinal slot 60. Pivoted to plate 25, as at 61, is a lock link 62 provided with a pin 63 projecting into and slidable in slot of arm 59. When the backrest 30 is in its upright position of FIG. 2 (with the seat 41 in its forward, sitting position), the pin 63 is at the lower end of slot 60. A stop lug 65 on plate 25 engages the lower edge of arm 48 of rear bell crank 46 when the backrest 30 is in its upright position of FIG. 2.

With the seat and backrest in the upright or sitting position of FIG. 2, bell cranks 46, 50 cannot rotate in a clockwise direction because pin 63 engages an edge at the lower end of said slot 60, so that tendency to rotate bell crank 46 will only cause a thrust on link 62 in its longitudinal direction. A stop pin 66 on plate 25 is contacted by the lower edge of arm 52 of bell crank 50 when the chair is in sitting position.

Pivoted to the forward end of said arm 52 of front bell crank 50, as at 67, is an operating bell crank 68 having a rearwardly extending arm 69 from the front end of which projects upwardly an arm 70. The pivot 67 is about at the middle of arm 69. The upper end of arm 70 is pivoted, as at 21, to portion 35 of seat memmber 33, rearwardly of the front end 72 of said portion.

Lazy tongs mechanism 73 is provided to project the leg rest member or ottoman 42. Said lazy tongs mechanism 73 comprises a link 74 pivoted at its upper end, as at 75, to the bell crank 68, at the junction of its arms 69, 70. Pivoted to the lower end of link 74, as at 75a, is a link 76. Pivoted to the front end of portion 35 of seat member 33, as at 77, is the upper end of link 78 which crosses and is interpivoted, as at 79, with link 76. Pivoted, as at 80, to the lower end of link 78, is a link 81. Pivoted to the upper end of link 76, as at 82, is a link 83 which crosses and is interpivoted to link 81, as at 84. The upper end of link 81 is pivoted, as at 85, to the upper end of a leg rest angle member 86 to which leg rest or ottoman 42 is fixed. Pivoted to the lower end of member 86, as at 87 is a short link 88 which is pivoted at its lower end, as at 89, to the lower end of link 83.

A stop pin 90 on link 78, located between pivots 77, 79, contacts link 76 between pivots 79, 82, when the leg rest is retracted and the seat and back rest are in the upright or sitting position of FIG. 2 In such position the leg rest angle member 86, and the leg rest or ottoman member 42 fixed thereto are in vertical position, extending down below and in front of the front end of the seat, as shown in said FIG. 2.

A drive link 93 is pivoted at its rear end, as at 94, to the rear end of arm 69 of operating bell crank 68. The front end of said drive link 93 is pivoted, as at 95 to link 78 of the lazy tongs mechanism 73, between stop pin 90 and pivot 77.

The movements of the seat 41 and backrest 30 and leg rest 42 will now be described, beginning with the upright or sitting position of FIG. 2. As the person sitting in the chair presses rearward on the seat 41 or backrest the leg rest will be projected and the seat and backrest will move to intermediate reclining position or TV position. During this phase of the movement, the bell cranks 46, 50 do not rotate for the reason explained above. However, during such movement, link 27 swings rearwardly from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3, and the backrest reclines to an intermediate position.

Also bell crank 56 rotates in a clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 2. It will be understood that the seat is supported on the bell cranks 56, 68 providing a parallelogram type movement of said bell cranks, when the seat member 33 moves rearwardly. Rotation of the control bell crank 56 causes rotation in a clockwise direction of link 62, while pin 63 remains at one end of slot 60. During this phase of movement, rotation of bell crank 68 causes drive link 93 to cause movement of the lazy tongs mechanism from the retracted position of FIG. 2 to the leg rest projected position of FIG. 3.

When the seat and backrest are in the TV or partially reclined position of FIG. 3, arm 59 of bell crank 56 and link 62 are in forwardly and somewhat upwardly tilted position. Further pressure on the seat rearwardly or rearwardly on the backrest, will cause movement of the seat and backrest from the TV position of FIG. 3 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 4. During this phase of movement, bell cranks 46, 50 rotate simultaneously in clockwise directions. The pin and slot connection of arm 59 and link 62 no longer prevents or locks the bell crank 46 against rotation. Rotation of the bell cranks 46, 50 raise the seat 41 and further incline the seat forwardly and upwardly and such movement causes further reclining movement of the backrest. During such movement, furthermore, the lazy tongs mechanism and the leg rest are raised upwardly A stop lug 98 on plate 25 serves to engage an upper edge of arm 48 of bell crank 46 to limit clockwise swinging of said bell crank During movement from TV position of FIG. 3 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 4, pin 63 slides back in slot 60. In the fully reclined position of FIG. 4, link 27 substantially contacts an upper inclined edge 21a of rail 21.

Means is provided to block rearward rocking movement of the rocker 18 when the seat and backrest are moved to TV and to fully reclined position of FIGS. 3 and 4, while permitting rocking of the rocker in either direction when said seat and backrest are in upright position of FIG. 2.

To this end, there is fixed to the underside of rear rail or member 39 of the seat frame 36, at each side of said frame, a bracket 100 having a depending apertured ear 101 to which is pivoted, as at 102, a link 103 which extends almost horizontally rearwardly when the chair is in the position of FIG. 2.

Fixed to the inner side of each side arm 19, at the lower rear end of the latter, is a bracket 104. Pivoted to said bracket 104, as at 105, is a bell crank 106. Said bell crank 106 comprises an arm 107 pivoted as at 108 to the rear end of link 103. Extending from said arm 107 and forming a V therewith is a second arm 109 which carries the pivot 105. At the junction of arms 107, 109 is a shaft 110 on which is mounted a roller or wheel 111.

Carried by shaft 110 and pivot pin 105 is a strap 112, with the wheel or roller 111 disposed between said strap and said -bell crank 106.

Strap 112 has an upward extension 113 spaced from a stop 114 on said bracket 104, when the chair is in the upright position of FIG. 2. As shown in said FIG. 2, the bell crank 106 is swung up above platform portion or rail 16, so that the rocker can rock back and forth freely.

Fixed to the inside of rail 15 is a bracket 120 having an upwardly and forwardly projecting upper end 121 carrying a screw 122 adjustably screwed through a suitable hole in said upper end. Said screw 122 has a rearwardly extending hook 123. Interconnecting said hook 123 with a pin 124 on arm 107 of bell crank 106, and located between shaft 110 and pivot 108, is a coil tension overcenter spring 125.

Said spring 125 in the sitting position of FIG. 2, is located above pivot pin 105 of the bell crank 106 and tends to keep said bell crank in raised non-blocking position to keep the roller or wheel 111 in raised non-operative, non-blocking position.

However, when the seat is pushed rearwardly to the TV or partially reclining position of FIG. 3, link 103 is pushed rearwardly to swing the bell crank 106 in a clockwise direction, downwardly about pivot 105, thereby causing wheel 111 to move down and contact rail 16, thereby moving the coil tension spring below pivot 105, to retain the bell crank in down position. The rocker will now be blocked against rearward rocking movement.

It will be noted that when the rocker is rocked in the FIG. 2 position, the spring 125 will be tensioned on each rearward rocking movement and will yieldingly urge the rocker to a forward rocking movement. This action is in addition to the spring action of the usual platform springs (not shown) of the rocker, to thereby produce a better and more comfortable rocking action.

As the wheel 111 strikes the rail 16, it tends to rock the rocker forwardly. Only rearward rocking is prevented.

As the seat and backrest move from the intermediate or TV position of FIG. 3 to the fully reclining position of FIG. 4, link 103 swings up about its rear pivot 108 Without substantially affecting the bell crank 106. In its down position, movement of bell crank 106 in a clockwise direction is prevented because of contact of extension 113 of strap 112 with the stop pin 114.

Since the overcenter spring 125 pulls forwardly on arm 107 of the bell crank 106, said spring acts as a means to yieldingly prevent the seat from moving rearwardly, and hence acts to yieldingly prevent the leg rest from opening up or projecting forwardly accidentally during rocking movement, and also to prevent accidental reclining movement during rocking movement.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a platform, a rocker rockably mounted thereon, body supporting means, means on the rocker to support the body supporting means for movement relative to the rocker, means controlled by movement of the body supporting means for preventing rearward rocking movement of said rocker on said platform, said preventing means comprising blocking means movably mounted on said rocker, means connecting said blocking means to said body supporting means, and means on said blocking means to contact a portion of said platform in one position of said blocking means, said connecting means and blocking means being arranged to retain said blocking means in spaced relation above said portion of said platform in one position of said body supporting means, and overcenter spring means to bias said blocking means in said contacting and in said spaced positions thereof, said overcenter spring means comprising a coil tension spring anchored at one end to means fixed with respect to the platform, and the other end of the spring being attached to said blocking means.

2. In combination, a platform, a rocker mounted on said platform for rocking movement, a seat, a backrest, means to pivotally connect said seat to said backrest, a front bell crank, a rear bell crank, said front and rear bell cranks being pivotally mounted on said rocker, each of said front and rear bell cranks having a forwardly extending leg and a downwardly extending leg and being pivoted to said rocker at the juncture of said legs, a link pivotally connecting the ends of said downwardly extending legs of said bell cranks, a rear control bell crank pivotally mounted on the end of the forwardly extending leg of said rear bell crank, a front operating bell crank pivotally mounted on the end of the forwardly extending leg of said front bell crank, means to mount said seat on said rear control bell crank and said front operating bell crank, a lock link pivoted to said rocker, at one end, the other end of said lock link having a pin extending outwardly therefrom, a leg of said rear control bell crank being formed with a slot, said pin being slidably received in said slot, and a rocking motion blocking bell crank pivotally mounted on said rocker, and link means connecting said blocking bell crank to said seat.

3. The combination of claim 2, said rocking motion blocking bell crank comprising a pair of legs forming a V, a roller mounted at the juncture of said legs of said blocking bell crank, said roller being engageable with said platform in a position thereof, said pivotal connection of said blocking bell crank to said rocker being located on one leg of said pair of legs, a strap on said blocking bell crank parallel to said one leg, said roller being disposed between said one leg and strap, and a spring interconnecting said platform with the other leg of said blocking bell crank.

4. In combination, a platform, a rocker rockably mounted thereon, body supporting means, means on the rocker to support the body supporting means for movement relative to the rocker, means controlled by movement of the body supporting means for preventing rearward rocking movement of said rocker on said platform, said preventing means comprising a V shaped blocking member having a first leg joined to a second leg at an apex, a roller mounted on the blocking member at said apex, means to pivotally connect the first leg to said rocker at a point spaced from the apex, link means to connect the second leg of said blocking member to said body supporting means for rotating said blocking member in a direction for moving the roller downwardly when said body supporting means moves rearwardly, and a coil tension spring connected at its rear end to an intermediate portion of said second leg and extending forwardly therefrom, and means to connect the front end of the spring to the platform at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal connection of said blocking member to said rocker, whereby rearward rocking movement of the rocker will tension said spring, and said spring being located above said pivotal connection of said blocking member to said rocker when said body supporting means is in position for upright sitting to bias said body supporting means to said position, and said spring moving below said pivotal connection of said blocking member to said rocker when said body supporting means is moved to a reclining position whereby to bias said body supporting means into said last mentioned position.

(References on following page) 7 8 References Cited by the Examiner 3,137,521 6/1964 Re 297--85 3 141 700 7/1964 Fletcher 297--89 X ITED ATES PATENTS 5 i 297 261 3,162,483 12/1964 Fletcher 29789 2/1884 Winchestgrfl; :-297 261 X 5 3,163,464 12/1964 Martm et a1. 28785 6/1886 Doubler 297--261 OREIG ATE 3/1961 Jelinek 297--89 X F N P 7 9 2 Fletcher 297 5 864,906 Great Bntam.

12/1962 Belisle et a1. 297-316 X Y 6/1963 Fletcher 297 89 10 FRANK B. SHERR Y, Primary Exammer. 5/ 1964 Mohler 29789 J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, A PLATFORM, A ROCKER ROCKABLY MOUNTED THEREON, BODY SUPPORTING MEANS, MEANS ON THE ROCKER TO SUPPORT THE BODY SUPPORTING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE ROCKER, MEANS CONTROLLED BY MOVEMENT OF THE BODY SUPPORTING MEANS FOR PREVENTING REARWARD ROCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID ROCKER ON SAID PLATFORM, SAID PREVENTING MEANS COMPRISING BLOCKING MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROCKER, MEANS CONNECTING SAID BLOCKING MEANS TO SAID BODY SUPPORTING MEANS, AND MEANS ON SAID BLOCKING MEANS TO CONTACT A PORTION OF SAID PLATFORM IN ONE POSITION OF SAID BLOCKING MEANS, SAID CONNECTING MEANS AND BLOCKING MEANS BEING ARRANGED TO RETAIN SAID BLOCKING MEANS IN SPACED RELATION ABOVE SAID PORTION OF SAID PLATFORM IN ONE POSITION OF SAID BODY SUPPORTING MEANS, AND OVERCENTER SPRING MEANS TO BIAS SAID BLOCKING MEANS IN SAID CONTACTING AND IN SAID SPACED POSITIONS THEREOF, SAID OVERCENTER SPRING MEANS COMPRISING A COIL TENSION SPRING ANCHORED AT ONE END TO MEANS FIXED WITH RESPECT TO THE PLATFORM, AND THE OTHER END OF THE SPRING BEING ATTACHED TO SAID BLOCKING MEANS.

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