US3325210A

US3325210A - Adjustable leg rest locking device

Info

Publication number: US3325210A
Application number: US502861A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward M Knabusch; Edwin J Shoemaker
Original assignee: La Z Boy Inc
Current assignee: La Z Boy Inc
Priority date: 1965-10-23
Filing date: 1965-10-23
Publication date: 1967-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-13
Also published as: BE680022A; FR1476104A; DE1282880B; NL6603982A; AT266384B; DE1965880U; GB1096549A

Description

June 13, 1967 E. M` KNABUSCH ETAL 3,325,219

ADJUSTABLE LEG REIT LOCKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 23. 1965 Sheets-$neet l June 13, 1967 E. M. KNABUsci-i ETAL 3,325,2w

ADJUSTABLE LEG REST LOCKING DEVICE Filed oct. 23, 1965 5 Sheetsneet E June 13, 1967 E. M. KNABUSCH Eff-AL 3,325,2l0

ADJUSTABLE LEG REST LOCKING DEVICE Filed 001,. 23, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet United States Patent O 3,325,210 ADJUSTABLE LEG REST LOCKING DEVICE Edward M. Knabusch and Edwin J. Shoemaker, both of Monroe, Mich., assignors to La-Z-Boy Chair Company, Monroe, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,861 18 Claims. (Cl. 297-269) The present invention relates generally to chairs, and particularly to an improved extendable leg rest for a lounging chair.

Many present-day lounging chairs are provided with a leg rest which is movable from a retracted position adjacent the chair front to an extended position forwardly of tbe chair front to` support the users legs. One such chair is the rocker-recliner illustrated and described in detail in the U.S. Patent -to E. M. Knabusch et al., No. 3,096,121 granted July 2, 1963, and owned by the assignee of the present application. Reference may be made thereto for a detailed description thereof.

In general, 4these leg rests are manipulated by actuating a mechnical linkage. In one conventional form, which includes the chair described in the Knabusch et al. patent mentioned above, a lever type linkage is used to manipulate the `leg rest, this type of linkage being advantageous because of its inherent mechanical advantage and because it functions to hold the leg rest in an extended position by the linkage being moved to an on or over-center position. In some cases, the leg rest linkage is assisted in holding the leg rest fully extended retracted by a spring and link arrangement `such as that illustrated and described in `detail in the U.S. Patent to E. M. Knabusch et al., No. 3,099,487, granted July 30, 1963, also owned by the assignee of the present application.

In all constructions, it is desirable that the leg rest be securely locked in its extended position so as not to inadvertently be retracted when a relatively heavy force is applied thereto. Thus, if, for example, a user sits down on the leg rest when it is extended, the leg rest and linkage `must be able to withstand his weight without releasing in order to prevent injury to the user. In the lever-type linkage described above, the on or over-center position of the linkage parts provides this support and the leg rest is retractable only when the linkage is purposely manipulated as by manually turning a separate operating handle. Thus, the lever-type linkage provides a relatively simple and, because of its inherent lever action, a desirable mechanical advantage and an extremely eicient manipulating arrangement.

In order to accommodate consumer desires and differing needs, it has been proposed that leg rests of the type described above be made adjustable so as to have one or more intermediate extended positions. However, the above-described lever-type manipulating linkage when used alone is inelfective to achieve this adjustment and provide for locking the leg rest in the various positions. This is so since there can effectively be only one on or over-center position of the lever linkage. Thus, there is a need for a device adapted to afford a multipositon, releasable leg rest locking device which permits use of the lever-type leg rest manipulating linkage. In addition, this device should be relatively simple, light and inexpensive to manufacture.

The main object of the present invention therefore `is to provide a multiposition leg rest locking device adapted for use with a leg rest manipulating linkage and particu# larly a lever-type linkage for supporting the leg rest in a plurality of extended positions and which is easily releasable to permit the leg rest to be fully retracted.

` Further objects of the present invention are to provide a locking device of the above character which is relatively by. bushings 71 in the side frames 21,

3,325,210 Patented June 13, 1967 inexpensive to manufacture, simple and light in construction and reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a platform rocking chair having an extendable leg rest and operating mechanism therefor, embodying the present invention;

l FIG. 2 is an enlarged broken plan view of the seat frame of the chair illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the novel leg rest locking device of the present invention;

FIG, 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the other portion of the novel leg rest locking deviceof the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a plan View of the structure of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrow 8 thereof.

Broadly described, the present invention includes a chair having an extendable leg rest, plate means turnable with actuation of a leg rest manipulating linkage, said plate means pivotally attached to arm means supported by said chair, said plate means and arm means having cooperable detent means adapted to hold said leg rest and its manipulating linkage in at least one intermediate extended position and being releasable to permit free leg rest and linkage retraction.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, a chair, representatively illustrated as a platform rocker 11, is shown to include a back frame 13 containing aback cushion 15 fixed with respect to a seat frame 17 having a resiliently supported seat cushion 19 thereon. The seat frame 17 includes a pair of laterally spaced side frames 21, 23 which are joined by a front and rear rail V25, 27, respectively. The side frames 21, 23 are also interconnected by a crossbar 29 at the front, upper end thereof. Rockers 31, 33 secured on the inside surface of the side frames 21, 23 engage the upper surface of side members 35, 37 of a base supporting frame 39 in rockable relation therewith. The

rockers

31, 33 and the side members 35, 37 are interconnected by double coil spring devices 41 which are of a form well known in the art.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention further includes a leg rest 43 supported on the seat frame 17 for movement from a retracted position illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 and in full lines in FIG. 1, to an extended position illustrated in d0t-dash lines in FIG. l by a pair of spaced pantograph mechanisms 45, 47. Each of the pantograph mechanisms includes a first pair of links 49, 51 secured in scissor relation by a pivot pin 53. The upper end of the link 49 is secured to a bracket 55 on the underside of the cross arm 29 Iby a pivot pin 57. A pair of U-shaped links S9, each comprising a cross arm 61 joining a pair of laterally

spaced legs

63, 65, is interconnected with the rear end of a respective one of the links 51 by a pin 67 pivotally interconnecting the link 51 and the leg 65. A generally square cross-sectional actuating shaft 69 extends through complementary formed openings in each of the

legs

63, 65 and has end portions rotatably carried The actuating shaft 69 is adapted to Ibe turned by means of an operating handle 73 mounted on and secured to the outer end thereof. The interconnected link 51 and leg 65 form a lever-type linkage which drives the pantographs 45, 47 so that by turning the shaft 69, the leg rest 43 is moved from its retracted position to an extended legsupporting position. When the operating handle 73 is positioned forwardly as shown in FIG. 2 and in full lines in FIG. 1, an outwardly directed stop tab 75 on each leg 65 engages a forward surface 77 of a clearance notch 79 in the rear end of the respective link 51. When the operating handle 73 is moved to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, the leg rest 43 is moved to its extended leg-supporting position and is held there by engagement of the stop tabs 75 with the rear surface 81 of a respective one of the notches 79. The surfaces 81 are positioned so that the handle 73 moved more than 90, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to produce movement of the leg portions 65 between the points where the stop tabs 75 engage the surfaces 77, 81, respectively, of the clearance notches 79. When the stop tabs 75 engage the surfaces 81, the leverlinkage formed by the link 51 and leg 65 is in an on or over-center position thereby locking the leg rest 43 in its fully extended position. To retract the leg rest 43, the operating handle 73 is moved forwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2 and in full lines in FIG. l thereby turning the shaft 69 and collapsing the links 51 `and legs 65.

The pantographs 45, 47, in addition to the links 49, 51, each includes a second set of links 83, 85 also disposed in scissor relationship and secured together by a pivot pin 87. The upper ends of the links 83 are connected to the upper ends of the links 51 lby a pivot pin 89 and their lower ends are connected to the rear ends of the links 91 by a pivot pin 93. The links 91 have their front ends connected to a bracket 95 by a pivot pin 97, this bracket is, in turn, secured to the underside of the leg rest 43. The lower ends of the links 85 are connected to the lower ends of the links 49 by a pivot pin 99 and their upper ends are connected to the bracket 95 by a pivot pin 101. The lengths of the links are such as to produce the illustrated leg rest movement and are set out in detail in the U.S. Patent to E. M. Knabusch et al., No. 2,963,077, granted Dec. 6, 1961, and reference may be made thereto for a detailed description thereof.

To assist in holding the leg rest 43 in its fully extended and retracted positions, a spring and linkage device is provided and shown generally at 103. This device is seen to include a generally sickle-shaped link 105 having its forward end connected by a pivot pin 107 to an arm 109 fixed to the shaft 69 for turning movement therewith. The rearward end of the link 105 has one end of a tension spring `111 xed thereto, the other end of which is iixed to the side frame 21 by a screw 113. The link 105 and the arm 107 are constructed so that when the leg rest 43 is in the retracted position as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spring 111 exerts a rearward pulling force on the link 105 tending to turn the shaft 69 in a clockwise direction as viewed in the figures. When the leg rest 43 is extended, as seen in dot-dash lines in FIG. l, the shaft 69 will have been turned more than 90 in a counterclockwise direction. This causes the arm 107 also to swing counterclockwise moving the link 105 upwardly where- Vupon the force of the spring 111 on the link 105 tends to turn the shaft 69 in a counterclockwise direction holding the leg rest 43 in its extended position. The details of this construction are set out in the above-mentioned Knabusch et al. U.S. Patent No. 3,099,487.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the leg rest 43 is easily moved from its retracted position to its extended position and is effectively held in these respective positions by the construction and arrangement of the manipulating linkages. However, with the described construction, the leg rest 43 can be positioned and held in only one extended position, that Ibeing the fully extended position illustrated by dot-dash lines in FIG. 1. By the present invention, the leg rest 43 is adapted to be positioned and held in oneior more intermediate extended positions thereby making the chain considerably more versa-tile and more comfortable for the user.

As seen in FIGS. 3-5 and 7, a plate 115 is mounted on the shaft 69 for turning movement therewith, the plate 115 having an opening 117 generally complementary to the shaft 69. A retaining spacer 119 has one end looped over the plate and the other end extending through the shaft 69 to position the plate 115 laterally on the shaft 69. In addition, this spacer 119 serves to laterally position the U-shaped link 59 on the shaft 69. The plate 115 is connected to the rearward end of an arm 121 by a pivot pin 123. The arm 121 extends forwardly through a formed wire loop or arm 125 and is connected to one end of a tension spring 127 (FIGS. 2-4, 6, 8). The other end of the spring 127 is iixed to reversely bent end portions 129 of the wire loop 125 which extend snugly through an opening 131 in the cross piece 29.

The end of the plate 115 spaced from the shaft 69 has a generally arcuate earn edge 133 and is provided with a pair of protruding

ears

135, 137, one at either end, respectively. Along the cam edge 133 near the ear 137 is one or more formed slots 139. The arm 121 is bifurcated at its rearward end to receive the plate 115 and is provided with a generally L-shaped opening 141 through each bifurcated end. A detent pin 143 is positioned in the opening 141 and has fixed thereto at each outer end one end of a pair of tension springs 145. The other end of each spring 145 is fixed to the pivot pin 123. The detent pin 143 is biased rearwardly by the springs 145 toward the rear wall of the opening 141. The pivot pin 123 and the opening 141 are positioned so that the detent pin 143 will remain in either leg of the L-shaped opening 141 when positioned therein.

When the leg rest 43 is in its retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 2-4 and in full lines in FIG. l, the plate 115 is in the position illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 so that the ear engages the detent pin 143 and moves it downwardly within the opening 141. In this position, the springs pull the detent pin 143 rearwardly within the lower leg of the opening 141 and into engagement with the plate cam surface 133. When the leg rest 43 is extended by turning the operating handle 73, the shaft 69 and the plate 115 turn in a counterclockwise direction as seen in the figures. The cam surface 133 slides along the detent pin 143, the relation between this cam surface and the pivot pin 123 being such that the detent pin 143 will remain within the lower leg of the opening 141. Also, the cam 121 can move slightly forwardly during turning movement of the plate 115 about the axis of the shaft 69 by movement of the spring 127.

When the shaft 69 has been turned sufficiently, one of the s lots 139 moves to a position adjacent the opening 141 and the springs 145 pull the detent pin 143 into this slot 139. The slot 139 is shaped to prevent clockwise turning movement of the plate 115 after the detent pin 143 is in the slot so that the shaft 69 also is locked against clockwise turning movement and the leg rest 43 is held against retraction in a partially extended position. This will support the leg rest 43 in this position even if a user sits down thereon. In addition, if a strong force is applied to the leg rest as by one sitting thereon, the effect is to attempt to turn the shaft 169 and the plate 115 in a clockwise direction. The spring 127 allows a limited amount of turning movement of this type but is limited by engagement of the arm 121 with the bottom of the wire loop4 The slot 139 is shaped to permit further counterclockwise turning movement of the plate 115 and cams the detent pin 143 out of the slot 139 when the plate 115 is so turned. This permits the shaft 69 also to be turned counterclockwise and the leg rest 43 to be extended further until the next slot 139 is adjacent the opening 141 whereupon the detent pin 143 is pulled into this slot by the springs 145. Here, again, the plate 115 and the shaft 69 cannot turn in a clockwise direction and the leg rest 43 is held against retraction in this further extended position. However, the shaft 69 and plate 115 can be turned counterclockwise to fully extend the leg rest 43 by virtue of the shape of the slot 139 so that during movement of the leg rest 43 from its retracted position to its fully extended position, the locking device acts like a ratchet permitting relatively free movement of the leg rest to its extended position but providing that the leg rest can be locked in any partially extended position where a slot 139 m-oves adjacent the opening 141. It will, of course, be understood that the number of slots 139 can be varied to provide fewer or more partially extended leg rest locking positions.

When the leg rest 43 is moved to its fully extended position, the ear 137 engages the detent pin 143 and moves it int-o the upper leg of the opening 141. In this position, the over-center relation of the manipulating linkage and the spring linkage 103 hold the leg rest 43 against retraction. However, when it is desired to retract the leg rest 43, the operating handle 73 and the shaft 69 are turned in a clockwise direction as described above causing the plate 115 also to turn and the detent pin 143 presents no obstruction to this movement since it remains in the upper leg of the opening 141 and spaced slightly outwardly from the cam surface 133. When the leg rest 43 is fully retracted, the ear 135 engages the detent pin 143 and moves it into the lower leg of the opening 141 and into engagement with the cam surface 133.

By the present invention, there has been provided an improved multiposition extendable leg rest lfor `a lounging chair and while a preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described abovev in detail, various additions, substitutions, modifications and omissions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as encompassed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a linkage means on said chair for moving said leg rest from a retracted position to a fully extended position, plate means turnable with actuation of said linkage means and pivotally attached to arm means supported by said chair, cooperable detent means on said plate and arm means holding said linkage means in at least one position and said leg rest in a partially extended position, said detent means being releasable to permit free movement of said linkage and therefore 'said leg rest to said retracted position.

32. A` chair having an extendable leg rest, a manipulable linkage on said chair for moving said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended locked position, plate means turnable with actuation of said linkage and pivotally attachedto an arm means supported by said chair, cooperable'one-way detent means on said plate and a'rm means holding said linkage against retraction in at least one position spaced from said locked position and said leg rest in a partially extended position, said detent means being releasable to permit free movement of said linkage and therefore leg rest to said retracted position.

3. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a manipulable linkage on said chair for moving said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended locked position, a plate turnable with actuation of said linkage and pivotally attached to an arm resiliently supported by said chair, means limiting movement of said arm in one direction relative to said chair, cooperable one-way detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage against retraction in at least one position spaced `from said lockedV position and said leg rest in a partially extended position, said detent means being releasable to Vpermit freemovement ot said linkage and therefore leg rest to said retracted position.

4. A chair having an extendable `leg rest, a manipulable linkage on said chair for moving said leg rest from aretracted position to an extended locked position, a plate turnable with actuation of said linkage and pivotally attached to an arm supported by said chair, cooperable detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage in at least one position spaced from said locked position and said leg rest in a partially extended position, said detent means being releasable upon movement of said linkage to said locked position to permit free movement of said leg rest thereafter to said retracted position by manipulation of said linkage.

S. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a manipulable linkage on said chair for moving said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended locked position, a plate turnable with actuation of said linkage and pivotally attached to an arm supported by said chair, cooperable -one-way detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage against retraction in two independent positions spaced from said locked position and said leg rest in two partially extended positions, said detent means being releasable to permit free movement of said linkage and therefore leg rest to said retracted position.

6. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage locking said leg Irest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate fixed to said pivotally mounted means for movement therewith, an arm supported by said chair and pivotally interconnected with said plate, cooperable detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage in at least one position spaced from said locked position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, said detent means being releasable to permit free manipulation of said linkage to move said leg 4rest to said retracted position.

7. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate iixed to said pivotally mounted means for movement therewith, an arm supported by said chair and pivotally interconnected with said plate, cooperable ratchet detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage against retraction in at least one position spaced from said locked position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, said ratchet detent means being releasable to permit free manipulation of said linkage to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

8. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a linkage interconnecting said chair an-d said leg rest, means pivotally mounted on said chair vfor manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate xed to said pivotally mounted means for movement therewith, an arm pivotally interconnected with said plate, a tension spring interconnecting said arm and chair means carried by said chair limiting movement of said arm in a direction stretching said ltension spring, cooperable ratchet detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage against retraction in at least one position spaced from said locked position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, said ratchet detent means being releasable to permit free manipulation of said linkage to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

9. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage locking said leg resty against retraction when in said extended position, a plate fixed to said pivotally mounted means for movement therewith, an arm supported by said chair and pivotally interconnected with said plate, cooperable detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage in at least one position spaced from said locked position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, means on said plate releasing said detent means upon movement of said linkage t-o said locked position to permit free manipulation of said linkage to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

10. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate fixed to said pivotally mounted means for movement therewith, an arm supported by said chair and pivotally interconnected with said plate, cooperable detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage in at least one position spaced from said locked position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, rst means on said plate releasing said detent means upon movement of said linkage to said locked position to permit free manipulation of said linkage to move said leg rest to said retracted position and second means on said plate repositioning said `detent means for holding operation of said linkage upon manipulation of said linkage to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

11. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage t-o move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate xed to said pivotally mounted means for movement therewith, an arm supported by said chair and pivotally interconnected with said plate, cooperable ratchet detent means on said plate and arm holding said linkage against retraction in two independent positions spaced from said locked position and said leg -rest in two partially extended positions, said ratchet detent means being releasable to permit free manipulation of said linkage to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

12. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a levertype linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, shaft means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage moving to an over-center position locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate xed to said shaft means for turning movement therewith, an arm supported at one end by said chair and pivotally interconnected at its other end with said plate, at least one slot in said plate, a pin carried within an opening aligned in said arm and receivable in said slot, means biasing said pin toward said slot, said slot positioned on said plate to hold said linkage in one position spaced from said over-center position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, said pin being releasable from said slot to permit -free pivoting of said shaft means to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

13. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a lever-type linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, shaft means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage from a closed position to an open position to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage moving to an over-center position locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate xed to said shaft means for turning movement therewith, an arrn supported at one end by said chair and pivotally interconnected at its other end with said plate, at least one slot in said plate, a pin carried within an opening aligned in said arm and receivable in said slot, means biasing said pin toward said slot, said slot positioned on said plate to hold said linkage in one position spaced from said over-center position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, sai-d slot being shaped to hold said pin and prevent movement of said linkage to its closed position and to cam said pin outwardly thereof when said linkage is moved toward its Open position, said pin `being releasable from said slot to 8 permit free pivoting of said shaft means to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

14. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a lever-type linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, shaft means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage from a-closed position to an open position to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage moving to an over-center position locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate fixed to `said shaft means for turning movement therewith, an arm suspended 'at one end from said chair by a tension spring, a generally U-shaped arm suspended from said chair and surrounding said arm to lirnit movement of said arm in a direction stretching said spring pivotally interconnected at its other end with said plate, at least `one slot in said plate, a pin carried within an opening aligned in said arm and receivable in said slot, means biasing said pin toward said slot, said slot positioned on said plate to hold said linkage in one position spaced from said over-center position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, said slot being shaped to hold said pin and prevent movement of said linkage to its closed position and to cam said pin outwardly thereof when said linkage is moved toward its open Iposition, said pin being releasable from said slot to permit free pivoting of said shaft means to move lsaid leg rest to said retracted position.

15. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a lever-type linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, shaft means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage moving to an over-center position locking said leg rest against retraction when in s-aid extended position, a plate xed to said shaft means for turning movement therewith, an arm supported at one end by said chair and pivotally interconnected at its other end with said plate, said plate having an arcuate edge with at least one slot therein, a pin carried within an L-shaped opening in said arm and receivable in said slot, means biasing said pin in a direction within a first leg of said L-shaped opening engaging said plate arcuate edge, said slot positioned .on said plate to hold said linkage in one position spaced from said overcenter position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, a radi-al extension on said plate arcuate edge engaging said pin and moving it into a second leg of said L-shaped opening when said linkage is moved to sai'd over-center position to hold sai-d pin away from said arcuate plate edge and permit free pivoting of said shaft means to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

16. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a lever-type linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, shaft means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position when in said extended position, a plate xed to said over-center position locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate xed to said shaft means for turning movement therewith, an arm supported at one end Iby said chair and pivotally interconnected at its other end with said plate, said plate having an arcuate edge with at least one slot therein, a pin carried within an L-shaped opening in said arm and receivable in said slot, means biasing said pin in a direction within a rst leg of said L-shaped opening engaging said plate arcuate edge, said slot positioned on said `plate to hold said linkage in one position spaced from said overcenter position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, a first radial extension on said plate arcuate edge engaging said pin and moving it into a second leg of said L-shaped opening when said linkage is moved to said over-center position to hold said pin away from said arcuate plate edge and permit free pivoting of said shaft means to move said leg rest to said retracted position and a second radial extension on said plate arcuate edge engaging said pin and moving it out of said second leg and into said first leg of said L-shaped opening upon movement of said linkage to said closed position.

17. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a lever-type linkage interconnecting said chair ,and said leg rest, shaft means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage moving to an over-center position locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate fixed to said shaft means for turning movement therewith, an arm supported at one end by said chair and pivotally interconnected 'at its other end with said plate, two spaced slots in said plate, a pin carried within an opening in said arm and receivable in each said slot, means biasing said pin toward sad slots, said slots positioned on said plate to hold said linkage in two independent positions spaced from said over-center position and said leg rest in two independent partially extended positions, said pin being releasable from `said slots to permit free pivoting of said shaft means to move said leg rest to said retracted position.

18. A chair having an extendable leg rest, a lever-type linkage interconnecting said chair and said leg rest, shaft means pivotally mounted on said chair for manipulating said linkage to move said leg rest from a retracted position to an extended position, said linkage moving to an overcenter position locking said leg rest against retraction when in said extended position, a plate fixed to sai-d shaft means for turning movement therewith., an arm supported at one end by said chair and pivotally interconnected at its other end with said plate, said other end of said arm being bifurcated and receiving said plate therebetween, at least one slot in `said plate, a pin carried Within aligned openings in said arm bifurcated end and receivable in said slot, a pair of tension springs biasing said pin toward said slot, said slot positioned on said plate to hold said linkage in one position `spaced from said over-center position and said leg rest in one partially extended position, said pin being releasable from said slot to permit free pivoting of said shaft means vto move said leg rest to said retracted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,169 1/ 1894 Armstrong 297-69 2,963,077 12/1960 Knabusch et al 297-265 3,016,264 1/ 1962 Hughes 297-69 3,096,121 7/1963 Knabusch et al. 297-269 3,099,487 7/ 1963 Knabusch et al 297-429 3,235,307 2/1966 Knabusch et al. d 297-269 X 3,300,244 l/l967 Hughes 297-261 X DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A CHAIR HAVING AN EXTENDABLE LEG REST, A LINKAGE MEANS ON SAID CHAIR FOR MOVING SAID LEG REST FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TO A FULLY EXTENDED POSITION, PLATE MEANS TURNTABLE WITH ACTUATION OF SAID LINKAGE MEANS AND PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO ARM MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID CHAIR, COOPERABLE DETENT MEANS ON SAID PLATE AND ARM MEANS HOLDING SAID LINKAGE MEANS IN AT LEAST ONE POSITION AND SAID LEG REST IN A PARTIALLY EXTENDED POSITION, SAID DETENT MEANS BEING RELEASABLE TO PERMIT FREE MOVEMENT OF SAID LINKAGE AND THEREFORE SAID LEG REST TO SAID RETRACTED POSITION.