WO1989008416A1

WO1989008416A1 - Transformable period chair

Info

Publication number: WO1989008416A1
Application number: PCT/FR1989/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aline Meilleroux; Jean-Louis Meilleroux; Michel Prieur
Original assignee: Aline Meilleroux; Meilleroux Jean Louis; Michel Prieur
Priority date: 1988-03-18
Filing date: 1989-03-15
Publication date: 1989-09-21
Also published as: FR2628616A1; EP0401298B1; EP0401298A1; DE68915749D1; FR2628616B1

Abstract

A period chair, entirely motor-operated which the user can transform into a chair for resting of relaxation or into a bed, without leaving the chair or without the aid of another person for placing in position the foot support.

Description

TRANSFORMABLE STYLE SEAT

The present invention relates to seats designed to be transformable by their user into rest seats or relaxation seats or into a bed. Many models of transformable seats or armchairs are already known. Their actuation is most often carried out by the user who, by his own efforts, changes the balance of the seat, or who actuates one or more levers. They rarely smell motorized and this motorization is always partial.

Known models of so-called rest or relaxation armchair have a footrest which only partially supports the legs. Known models of so-called relaxation chairs cannot remove the footrest without the help of an outside person, the user being out of the seat, and having to find a place to store the cushion. feet. Some rare known models do not have this drawback but the aesthetics, in particular by the height of the seat, is very poor.

The novelty of the present invention lies, on the one hand in the combination in one seat of the advantages that are found distributed in different models already known, and on the other of the advantages which are specific to it, in particular of having a aesthetic corresponding to a determined style and also to offer its user the possibility of transforming it into a relaxation seat, or a relaxation armchair, or rest, at his choice, without effort on his part, and without storage problems caused by the footrest, which is nevertheless very comfortable. This seat is therefore characterized by a simplicity of use not yet achieved to date: the user can obtain any position without leaving his seat.

The aforementioned advantages as well as others, will appear in the description which follows with reference to the figures.

- Figure 1 shows an example of an armchair according to the invention.

- Figures 2 and 3 show partial views of the mechanics.

- Figures 4 and 5 show variants of the mechanical assembly.

- Figures 6,7,8 show possible locations of the remote controls. - Figures 9, 10, 11, 12 show devices simplifying the mechanics

- Figures 13 and 14 show applications of the present invention. The seat shown in Figure 1 is by way of example an armchair, but one could envi-fger a shepherdess or even a sofa or any other seat depending on the style that one is looking for, here of classic period, but periods could be envisaged, or the use which one wishes to make of it, here a piece of living room furniture, but one can envisage more sober pieces of furniture for the outside, or adapted for professional medical, paramedical or other purposes, or specially suitable for disabled or elderly people.

This seat consists of a base 1, a seat cushion 2, the armrests 3, a backrest 4 and its cushion 5. Under the seat cushion is concealed a mechanical assembly 6 and a footrest which are not visible. the aesthetics of the seat in the 'lounge' position, as it is presented here, is then completely intact. Referring to Figure 2, the mechanism is supported by the base 1 or body or carcass, depending on the style or destination of the seat. It consists of a fixed frame 10 supporting a movable frame 11 which carries the seat cushion 2, by means of four connecting rods 12 and 13. It should be noted that in the views where the mechanism is shown in profile, we sees only the links located on one side, the mechanism being symmetrical. These dielettes are particularly articulated, one, 12, by the axes 14 located below the level of the mobile chassis 11, the other, 13, by the axes 15 located above the mobile chassis 11.

This arrangement specific to the invention allows in a simple manner a continuous variation of the inclination, zero at the start, up to a maximum value without significant modification of the position of the user's center of gravity which is an advantage comfort. Another advantage of this geometry is to raise the end of the seat and allow the deployment of the footrest. Another advantage is to be able by exceeding the maximum inclination, finding a zero value with a notable displacement this time of the seat and the center of gravity of the user to obtain a position chaise longue or bed, without fear of tilting the seat therefore without the need for an additional base. The inclination is obtained by a translational actuator 16, electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or driven by any other form of energy depending on the use, supported at 17 on the fixed chassis and at 18 on the mobile chassis. For safety reasons, this actuator is self-locking, that is to say that in the absence of control, the actuator cannot change position under the action of an external force. In the example described, the actuator has a central position, but it could be envisaged to replace it with two actuators arranged laterally. On the movable frame is articulated the backrest support carrying the backrest 4 and its cushion 5 whose inclination is obtained by an actuator 20 similar to the actuator 16 which can also be replaced by two lateral actuators. The file 4 is articulated on its support at 21 which allows it to be transported folded. A lock 22 maintains it during use.

Referring to Figure 3, the movable frame 11 supports the footrest 23 and its cushion 24, which may be invisible. by folding up under the seat. The decorative crossmember 25 is supported by the footrest 23, the assembly being connected to the movable frame by four connecting rods 26 and 27 whose particular shape allows a lateral overflow of the seat cushion and the decorative crossmember, thus completing the aesthetics of the seat and completely concealing the footrest and the mechanics in the "lounge" position.

The link 26 is articulated at 28 on the movable frame 11, and at 29 on the footrest 23. It is articulated at 30 with an actuator 31, similar to the actuator 16, articulated at 32 to the movable frame. The link 27 is articulated at 33 on the movable chassis, below the articulation 28 and at 34 on the footrest below and in front of the articulation 29 in the folded position. This particular geometry where the links cross has the advantage of allowing a development of the footrest in a passage of lower height than with a simple articulation which in addition would have been visible.

Figure 4 shows a variant of the invention when one wants to help the user to get up or sit, Unchassis 40 supporting the seat cushion 2 and the backrest support 19 is supported by the movable chassis 11 by means of four links 41 and 42. The link 41 is articulated at 43 on the frame 40 and at 44 on the frame 11. The link 42 is articulated at 45 on the frame 40 and at 46 on the frame 11. By its particular arrangement, the frame 40 is raised as soon as the backrest 2 is completely raised when the actuator 20 continues to move.

Figure 5 shows a variant of the footrest which in two parts 34 and 35 allows to develop in an even lower height thanks to a cam 36 integral with the driving rod 26 and two rods 37 provided with two rollers8 and 39 yes roll on cam 36.

The actuators are remotely controlled by buttons 47 and 48 in sufficient number, constantly located within the reach of the user, hidden in the armrest (s), which is an advantage compared to the remote controls "wired" that we know and which may fall out of reach of the user. These remote controls are not on the armrest, an arrangement already known, but below on the face 59. or behind on the face 60, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Figure 8 shows a preferred version of the invention where the buttons are located on the face 61 under the armrest trim which can be lifted completely, or partially, which offers the advantages of an intact aesthetic and the impossibility of unwanted maneuvers by involuntary support of the user's arm. As an example, the armrest trim pivots on one of its sides, offering the possibility of a small shelf 49 which can receive refreshments, ashtray, small writing desk, or any other accessory; the remote controls can also be distributed in the two armrests and we can add other remote controls: HI FI system, television, etc ... or other accessories: cigarette lighter etc.

FIG. 9 relates to a simplified mechanism, a variant of the present invention, where only two actuators are necessary, the actuation of the seat being suppressed, the movement of the latter being linked sequentially to that of the footrest. This arrangement has the advantage of deploying the footrest when the height of its passage is maximum, therefore without the risk of hitting the ground. For this purpose, the movement of the mobile chassis is prestressed by the springs 50. When the footrest actuator 31, articulated on the fixed chassis 10 at 51 develops, the mobile chassis 11 tilts to a position defined by the stop 52 without the footrest moving, then the latter in turn develops to the desired inclination. It will be noted that the links 26 and 27 are also simpler, and that the stop 52 can be placed to block the frame 11 or the link 12 or the link 13, a case shown here by way of example.

FIG. 10 shows a partial view of the simplified mechanical assembly in the case where a chaise longue position is desired. For the purpose of simplification, the links 26 and 27 are straight. A small actuator 53 presses a locking rod 54 against the driving rod 26. The blocking can only be done when the footrest is aligned with the seat; in this case and simultaneously the movement of the actuator 31 is reversed and the movement continues until the desired inclination.

Figure 11 shows a variant of the locking system of the link 26 where a bolt 64 actuated by an actuator can come out of the movable frame 11 to come into the keeper 65 as soon as the link 26 is in position so that the assembly is in position lomgue chair.

Figure 12 shows another mechanism to obtain the deckchair position this time without backtracking. A movable stop 66 actuated by the link 26 of the footrest via an additional link 67 lets escape the stop 52. The movement of the seat then continues forward, and the particular shape of the stop 66 keeps the unit in the chaise longue position.

FIG. 13 shows a contemporary armchair according to the invention, to which a rotational movement has been added along a vertical axis between the seat 62 and the base 63 by means of an actuator 55.

Figure 14 shows a transformable chair according to the invention for disabled people. It is equipped with two motors 56 located on the rear legs which allow movement, as well as two armrests articulated at 57 and 58 which allow them to be retracted in the bed position. The invention finds its application in the realization of:

- very comfortable style furniture that can be transformed into relaxation chairs or a bed,

- professional furniture of great comfort,

- specialized furniture for the elderly or disabled,

- furniture for beauticians, physiotherapists and other medical or paramedical professions.

Claims

REVENDI CATIONS

1) Convertible style seat consisting of a base or body or carcass, a seat cushion 2, armrests 3, a backrest 4 and its cushion 5, characterized in that under the seat cushion is concealed a mechanism arranged particularly and composed of a fixed hunting 10, a movable frame 11, a footrest 23 and its cushion 24 and whose different movements of inclination of the seat, inclination of the backrest and inclination of the footrest are made by three actuators 16, 20 and 31 remotely controlled by buttons 47 and 48 constantly within the reach of the user, located on the face 61 of the armrest, under the trim, this ci pivoting to form a shelf 49.

2) Convertible style seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the remote control buttons 17 and 48 are located on the side 59 under, or 60 behind the foot of one or both armrests.

3) Convertible style seat according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an actuator imparting a rotational movement between the foot 63 and the seat 62.

4) Seat according to claim 1 particularly suitable for medical or paramedical applications, characterized in that it comprises actuators 56 allowing the user to move, and by armrests articulated in

57 and 58, retractable in bed position.

5) Seat according to claim 1, the mechanical assembly of which is characterized by the position of the articulations 14 of the connecting rods 12 situated below the level of the movable chassis 11 and the position of the articulations 15 of the connecting rods 13 situated above the level of the mobile chassis 11.

6) Seat according to claim 1 characterized by a simplified mechanism which comprises only two actuators 20 and 31, a spring 50 and a stop 52 limiting the movement of the movable chassis.

7) Seat according to claim 1 or 6 convertible into a lounge chair characterized in that the mechanism is provided with a locking rod 54 or a lock 64 moved by an actuator 53, or provided with a movable stop 66 driven by the link 26, letting the stopper 52 escape.

8) Seat according to claim 1 or 6 for disabled people, characterized by an additional frame 40 which rises when the actuator 20 has completely straightened the backrest 4.

9) Seat according to claims 1 or 6 characterized by a footrest in two parts 34 and 35, the relative movement of the second part 35 is controlled by a rod 37 whose rollers 38 and 39 roll on a cam 36 integral with the driving rod 26.