US3610651A

US3610651A - Mobile reclining couch

Info

Publication number: US3610651A
Application number: US879148A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence E Jackson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-11-24
Filing date: 1969-11-24
Publication date: 1971-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-05

Abstract

A mobile reclining couch having a fixed seat and leg support and a movable back support which articulates relative to the seat to permit a person to either sit upright or recline on such couch. The fixed seat and leg support, which is adapted to be lengthened or shortened, is carried on a plurality of rollers to permit the couch to be moved about from place to place by a person seated thereon.

Description

O Umted States Patent 11 1 3,610,651

[72] Inventor Clarence E. Jackson [56] aefergncescited PI). l 109, TGXIS City, TGX. 77590 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5; Q' $3 1969 478,247 7/l892 Valentine 297 359 f 2,362,186 11/1944 Brantz 200/474 I a 2,847,060 8/1958 Pearlstine, 297/359 2,883,683 4/1959 Burk 1 4 1 ,1 5/345 R 3,377,078 4/ I968 Jackson 1 1 1. 280/7v l [54] MOBILE RECLINING COUCH 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

[51] B62b5/00 s01 FieldofSearch 280 792, 87.02, 87.05, 87.01, 47.38, 71,474; 297/359;

Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant ExaminerRobert R, Song AttorneyPravel, Wilson 8: Matthews ABSTRACT: A mobile reclining couch having a fixed seat and leg support and a movable back support which articulates relative to the seat to permit a person to either sit upright or recline on such couch. The fixed seat and leg support, which is adapted to be lengthened 0r shortened, is carried on a plurality of rollers to permit the couch to be moved about from place to place by a person seated thereon.

MOBILE RECLINING COUCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to a new and improved mobile reclining couch having a back means which articulates relative to a longitudinally extending leg support that is mounted on rollers to facilitate movement of such couch from one place to another by a person seated thereon. The leg support is provided with means to vary its length to accommodate persons of various sizes.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various devices, such as the "Patient Support disclosed in my Unites States Letters Pat. No. 3,377,078, have been provided in the prior art for supporting patients, particularly those having one or both legs injured or otherwise incapacitated. However, the apparatus of the present invention provides a simpler, more comfortable and more versatile construction than that prior device. The present invention not only provides a more comfortable couch suitable for use as a bed for sleeping as well as for a couch for reclining or sitting, it also provides a variable length leg support to accommodate persons of various sizes or heights comfortably thereon. Such length adjustment is accomplished by means of a detachable extension of a desired size which may be quickly and easily secured to the leg support to lengthen it the desired amount.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a new and improved mobile reclining couch of variable length for supporting a person with an injured or otherwise incapacitated leg or legs in either an upright or reclined position. Such couch can be moved about from place to place by the person sitting thereon or by another, as desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved reclining couch having a fixed leg support member mounted on rollers with a back support member articulating relative to said leg support at one end thereof with a detachable extension member adapted to be slidably mounted on the opposite end of said fixed leg from the articulating back to facilitate either lengthening or shortening of such fixed support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the mobile reclining couch of the present invention showing the leg support extension connected to the fixed leg support; and

FIG. 2 is an isometric view from beneath the end of the leg support showing the details of construction of the means for detachably securing the leg support extension thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Briefly, the mobile reclining couch of the present invention is designated generally C in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Such couch preferably comprises a fixed leg or seat support L having a back support B which is pivotally connected at one end so as to articulate with respect thereto. Such fixed leg support is mounted on a plurality of rollers or wheels W and has a leg extension L which is adapted to be mounted at the opposite end of the leg support L from the articulating back B to provide a support to accommodate persons of various heights.

Considering now the apparatus of the present invention more in detail, the leg support L comprises a longitudinally extending rectangular bottom I4 formed of plywood, particle board or other suitable substantially rigid material. Such bottom 14 is pivotally connected by means of a hinge (not shown) at one end to a bottom member 16 formed in the articulating back B. Such bottom member 16 also comprises a rectangular member formed of plywood, particle board or other suitable substantially rigid material to provide a rigid support to a person seated or reclining on such couch C.

A suitable resilient pad or cushion [8, formed of foam rubber, polyfoam or other resilient material suitable for forming a mattress or cushion, is secured to the upper side of the bottom members I4 and 16. Preferably, such pad or cushion 18 comprises a single longitudinally extending rectangular member extending from the foot of the bottom member 14 to the head [60 of the back support member 16 so as to provide a continuous unitary cushion for supporting a person whether seated or reclining on the couch C.

As shown in FIG. I, the bottom member 14 is supported in a generally horizontal position above a rectangular storage shelf S by means of a pair of front legs 20 and 2t and a pair of

rear legs

30 and 31, respectively. Such

front legs

20 and 21 are generally wedge-shaped members and are provided with upwardly and inwardly inclined front and

rear ends

22 and 23, respectively, which tenninate in a transverse cross member 24 which is preferably positioned below the upper side of the cushion or mattress I8 so as not to project thereabove. Such bottom member I6 is normally connected thereto by means of glue, screws, or other suitable securing means.

Such legs

20 and 21 have inner and

outer sides

26 and 27 which connect the inclined front and

rear ends

22 and 23 to form an enclosed leg support member as shown.

Such ends

22 and 23 have a laterally extending shoulder 26a extending therebetween which supports the bottom member 16. The base 28 of the

legs

20 and 21 is supported on the upper side 19 of the support shelf S and is secured thereto by screws, glue or other suitable securing means as desired. The

rear legs

30 and 31, respectively, are preferably hollow and are formed of inclined or tapered front and

rear ends

32 and 33, respectively, which are inclined inwardly and upwardly toward each other, however the rear end 33 is curved forwardly at 33! to join the front end 32 at the upper end thereof. Inner and

outer sides

34 and 35 are provided on the

ends

32 and 33 to enclose such support legs 30 and 3]. A transverse shoulder 36 is provided on the inner side 34 of such rear support legs 30 and 3| for receiving the bottom member 16 and supporting it in a substantially horizontal position spaced above the shelf S. A transverse extending base member 37 is provided at the bottom of the

sides

34 and 35 and extends from the bottom of the end 32 to the bottom of the end 33 and rests on top of the shelf S to which such bottom members are secured by screws, glue or other suitable securing means.

The storage shelf S is provided with four wheels or casters 40 on which the mobile reclining couch C is moved. Such casters 40 are preferably positioned at the four comers of the rectangular shelf S, however, only three are seen in the isometric view of FIG. 1. The rollers 40 are preferably swivel mounted so as to facilitate movement of the couch C in any desired direction with a minimum of effort by a person seated thereon.

As best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the leg extension support L comprises a square or rectangular bottom 50 which a cushion 51 is mounted. Such cushion 51 is of substantially the same thickness as the cushion 18 so that the tops of the cushions will be aligned horizontally with each other when the leg extension L is connected to the support L as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The extension L' has a pair of straps 53 that are normally positioned substantially parallel to each other and are connected to the bottom member 50 by means of screws 530 or other suitable securir ig means. Each of such straps 53 is inserted into suitable openings in laterally spaced bracket members 55. Such brackets 55 preferably comprise U-shaped members having a base portion 55b, a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side portions 55c with laterally outwardly extending upper flange portions 55d which extend laterally outwardly in opposite directions from the upper ends of such side members 55c. Suitable openings 55e are provided in the lateral extending members 55d for receiving the screws 55a which secure such straps to the bottom member [4.

It will be appreciated that either one or more of such straps 53 may be used for supporting the leg extension L at the end of the base member L. A pair of arms 60 connect upper ends of the

rear legs

30 and 31, respectively, with the opposite sides of the back support B. Such arms 60 are provided with pins 61 at the rear end thereof for pivotally securing the arms to the bottom member [6 pin the back B. Pins 62 which project laterally inwardly from the upper end of the

legs

30 and 31 are provided for securing the arms 60 to

such legs

30 and 31. The arms 60 comprise longitudinally extending angle members 63 which include a vertically disposed plate 630 and a horizontally disposed plate 63b connected to the upper edge of the longitudinal place 630 and projecting laterally outwardly above the top of the

legs

30 and 31. A longitudinally extending slot 65 is provided in the plates 63a for receiving the pin 62. Such longitudinally extending slot 65 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced upwardly inclined openings 65a for receiving the pin 62 to secure the back B at a desired angle relative to the longitudinally extending base L.

It will be appreciated that when the arms 60 are moved forwardly so that the pin 62 is positioned in a rearmost notch 650 that the back member B will be positioned for supporting a person seated in an upright position on the base member L and that when the arms 60 are moved rearwardly so as to align the pin 62 with the forwardmost end of the slot 65, the back 8 will be positioned in a substantially horizontal position to permit a person to recline in a sleeping position on the couch C. lntennediate positions between upright and substantially horizontal are provided by the intermediate notches 65!. In using the mobile reclining couch C of the present invention, a person with either one or both legs immobilized or incapacitated may be positioned thereon in either an upright seated position or, if desired, in a reclining position. The length of the base L may be increased the desired amount by attaching a leg extension L' of appropriate size thereto by inserting the longitudinally extending substantially parallel straps 50 into the brackets 55 to secure the extension L on such base L. With die extension L' secured to the base, the couch C will thereby comfortably accommodate larger person, such as adults, or, if desired, the extension L' can be removed from the couch C and it will comfortably accommodate a child.

It will be appreciated that a tray, or writing support, or other transverse support member, may be positioned on top of the arms 60 to provide a work or play space for a person seated on the couch C. Also, it will be appreciated that the longitudinally extending storage shelf S beneath the couch C is provided for storing books, magazines, blankets, toys or games for use by a person confined to the couch C. Also, it will be appreciated that with one leg incapacitated, and the other leg free for use, a person may sit on the couch C with the incapacitated leg extended longitudinally thereon and use the other leg to propel and guide the movable couch C in any desired direction to thus move about from place to place while seated on the couch C.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A mobile reclining couch adapted to be propelled by a person carried thereon comprising:

a. a substantially flat horizontally extending base mounted on a plurality of rollers, said rollers being pivotally mounted to permit omnidirectional movement of said base;

b. A substantially flat horizontally extending support shelf for receiving and supporting the lower portion of a persons body when reclining thereon;

c. a pair of laterally spaced forward vertical support members mounted adjacent the opposite edges of said base for supporting the forward portion of such shelf in vertically spaced relation above said base;

d. a pair of laterally spaced rear vertical support members mounted adjacent opposite edges of said base and forward of the rear end t ereof for supportmg the rear portion of said shelf in a spaced vertical relation above said base, with the upper end of said rear vertical support members projecting above the upper surface of such shelf;

. a back support pivotally connected to the rear end of said shelf and adapted to be articulated relative thereto;

f. a pair of arms pivotally connected to said back support and slidably connected to the upper end of said rear vertical support members for positioning said articulated back support at a desired angle relative to said shelf support;

g. a substantially flat shelf support extension adapted to be secured to the forward end of such shelf support;

h. a pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel straps extending rearwardly from beneath the bottom of said shelf support extension;

i. bracket means adjacent the forward end of said shelf support for receiving said straps to removably connect said extension to the forward end of said shelf support; and

j. a longitudinally extending resilient cushion means on said shelf support and said back support and said shelf support extension for receiving and supporting a person thereon.

Claims

1. A mobile reclining couch adapted to be propelled by a person carried thereon comprising: a. a substantially flat horizontally extending base mounted on a plurality of rollers, said rollers being pivotally mounted to permit omnidirectional movement of said base; b. A substantially flat horizontally extending support shelf for receiving and supporting the lower portion of a persons body when reclining thereon; c. a pair of laterally spaced forward vertical support members mounted adjacent the opposite edges of said base for supporting the forward portion of such shelf in vertically spaced relation above said base; d. a pair of laterally spaced rear vertical support members mounted adjacent opposite edges of said base and forward of the rear end thereof for supporting the rear portion of said shelf in a spaced vertical relation above said base, with the upper end of said rear vertical support members projecting above the upper surface of such shelf; e. a back support pivotally connected to the rear end of said shelf and adapted to be articulated relative thereto; f. a pair of arms pivotally connected to said back support and slidably connected to the upper end of said rear vertical support members for positioning said articulated back support at a desired angle relative to said shelf support; g. a substantially flat shelf support extension adapted to be secured to the forward end of such shelf support; h. a pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel straps extending rearwardly from beneath the bottom of said shelf support extension; i. bracket means adjacent the forward end of said shelf support for receiving said straps to removably connect said extension to the forward end of said shelf support; and j. a longitudinally extending resilient cushion means on said shelf support and said back support and said shelf support extension for receiving and supporting a person thereon.