WO2018139914A1

WO2018139914A1 - An adjustable recliner rocker chair

Info

Publication number: WO2018139914A1
Application number: PCT/MY2017/000023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heng CHUA CHIONG
Original assignee: Seating Spectrum Sdn Bhd
Priority date: 2017-01-24
Filing date: 2017-06-21
Publication date: 2018-08-02
Also published as: MY189855A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a chair (100) comprising a seat back portion and a seat portion, wherein the seat back portion is defined by a seat back frame, characterised in that the seat back frame comprises an L-shaped flange (110) mounted on a base (150), having a protruding bar attached thereto; a resilient member (130) engaged with the protruding bar for giving a rocking motion to the seat back portion when a force is exerted thereto; a support member (120) engaged to the L-shaped flange (110), and a fastening means (140) for adjustably securing the support member (120) to the L-shaped flange (110), thereby allowing an adjustable reclining angle of the seat back portion.

Description

AN ADJUSTABLE RECLINER ROCKER CHAIR

Background of the invention

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a rocking chair, and more particularly to an improved rocking chair with a durable resilient member to project a rocking motion and an adjustable seat back portion in terms of inclination.

Description of Related Arte

Numerous chair mechanisms have been proposed over the years for providing a chair which accommodate an adjustable backrest and a rocking movement as well as combinations of these two movements.

Rocking-type chairs typically include a rocker spring mechanism disposed between a stationary base and lower structure of a chair frame for biasing the chair in an upright, neutral position while enabling the chair to rock forwardly and rearwardly. As a seat occupant rocks, the chair follows the contour of a rocker mechanism. Traditional rocker mechanisms generally include a spring box design including two opposed panels linked together with a rod that provides a pivot for the two panels for forming a "rocker box". To provide control and support for relative rocking motion between the opposed panels, a plurality of coil springs are contained within the rocker box, resiliently interconnecting the opposed panels. Forward and rearward rocking causes compression and extension of the various springs.

For example, US Patent No. 6,149,236 discloses a swivel chair with a height-adjustable seat surface and a backrest which can be adjusted in terms of inclination and is articulated in the plane of the seat surface so as to provide a fixed region for the thigh support and pivotable region for the posterior support. This gives a pivot axis which runs over the width of the seat surface and is obtained by articulation connections on the frame. The entire chair mechanism is arranged beneath the seat. Both the height adjustment and the inclination adjustment are realized by means of springs, preferably pneumatic springs, arranged in the frame. Another example, such as US Patent No. 5,044,693 discloses a seat back structure of an automotive seat that gives a resilient support to the back part of an occupant. The seat back structure comprises a seat back frame defining a space therein, a back support plate disposed within the space, a torsion bar for e!asticaliy supporting a lower end area of the back support plate, plural pairs of tension springs for elasticalty supporting an upper area of the back support frame. US Patent No. 697,494 discloses a rocking chair having its back moveable with relation to the seat with the use of rockers which composed of resilient metal. A spring is provided to secure a seat to a back for resisting downward or rearward movement of the back. There are several disadvantages associated with rocker mechanisms provided in the cited prior arts above. One of these includes the rocker mechanisms typically implement metal coil springs for providing resiliency. The nature of such springs, as well as their interaction with other components of the rocker mechanism, results in undesirable noise as the rocker mechanism is caused to function. Further, as the spring compresses when loaded and very often spring fails or loses its resilience when the extension and compression of the spring exceeds a limit, in addition, the cited prior arts above do not teach the simple mechanism of adjustable back rest in terms of inclination and rocking movement in one assembly. Finally, prior rocker mechanisms tend to include a significant amount of components. The number of components increases manufacturing complexity, and therefore manufacturing cost, in addition to increasing component cost.

Accordingly, it is desirable in the industry to provide an improved chair with rocker mechanism and adjustable backrest in terms of inclination. The improved chair should eliminate the disadvantages associated with prior rocker and backrest inclination adjustment mechanisms. Further, the improved chair should be more compact and less complex for reducing overall cost. Summary of Invention

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a chair which possesses a rocking mechanism and adjustable seat back portion in terms of inclination in one assembly.

It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a chair that having a resilient member which is durable and prevent the event of loses its resiliency.

Accordingly, these objectives may be achieved by following the teachings of the present invention. The present invention relates to a chair comprising a seat back portion and a seat portion, wherein the seat back portion is defined by a seat back frame, characterised in that an L-shaped flange mounted on a base, having a protruding bar attached thereto; a resilient member engaged with the protruding bar for giving a rocking motion to the seat back portion when a force is exerted thereto; a support member engaged to the L-shaped flange, and a fastening means for adjustably securing the support member to the L-shaped flange, thereby allowing an adjustable reclining angle of the seat back portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which: Fig. 1 is a drawing showing an isometric view of a chair (100) structure of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a drawing showing a side view of the chair (100) structure of the present invention.

Detaiied Description of the invention

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for claims. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover ail modifications, equivalents and alternatives failing within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and Includes" mean including, but not limited to. Further, the words "a" or "an" mean "at least one" and the word "plurality" means one or more, unless otherwise mentioned. Where the abbreviations or technical terms are used, these indicate the commonly accepted meanings as known in the technical field. For ease of reference, common reference numerals will be used throughout the figures when referring to the same or similar features common to the figures. The present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The present invention relates to a chair ( 100) comprising a seat back portion and a seat portion, wherein the seat back portion is defined by a seat back frame, characterised in that the seat back frame comprises:

an L-shaped flange (110) mounted on a base (150), having a protruding bar attached thereto;

a resilient member (130) engaged with the protruding bar for giving a rocking motion to the seat back portion when a force is exerted thereto;

a support member (120) engaged to the L-shaped flange (110). and a fastening means (140) for adjustably securing the support member (120) to the L-shaped flange (110), thereby allowing an adjustable reclining angle of the seat back portion. In a preferred embodiment of the chair (100), the protruding bar is positioned perpendicular to the L-shaped flange (110).

In a preferred embodiment of the chair (100), the protruding bar is provided with helices along its length.

In a preferred embodiment of the chair (100). the resilient member (130) is made of rubber, foam, or silicone material. In a preferred embodiment of the chair (100), the rocking motion of the seat back portion has a rocking angle in a range of 65° to 80°.

In a preferred embodiment of the chair (100), the reclining angle of the seat back portion is in a range of 65* to 80° from vertical position of the seat back portion.

Below is an example of an improved rocking chair from which the advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood, it is to be understood that the following example is for illustrative purpose only and should not be construed to limit the present invention in any way.

Examples

The present invention relates to a chair (100), in particular a rocking chair for office, cinema, theatre or automotive industry, with a seat back portion which can be adjusted in terms of inclination. Figure 1 shows the chair (100) structure of the present invention, comprises the seat back portion and a seat portion, wherein the seat back portion having a seat back frame connected to a pair of side rails (160) which support the seat portion. In a preferred embodiment, the pair of side rails (160) is ptvotally connected to the seat portion. Said pivot mechanism (161 ) is so constructed between the pair of side rails (160) and the seat portion, whereby the seat portion is mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis between a lowered use position and a raised non-use position. The seat back frame comprises an L-shaped flange (110) mounted on a base (150), having a protruding bar attached thereto. Said protruding bar is positioned perpendicular to the L-shaped flange (110). And, said protruding bar is provided with helices along its length. A resilient member (130) is engaged with the protruding bar for giving a rocking motion to the seat back portion when a force is exerted thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the resilient member (130) has a hollow cylindrical structure which transverse through the protruding bar. In order to meet different demand of the users, the resilient member (130) can be fabricated to have different rocking angle of the seat back portion by replicating the number of resilient member (130). in a preferred embodiment, rubber, foam, or silicone material is chosen as resilient member (130) for providing resiliency. Bolts and nuts or other securing means are used to secure the resilient member (130) to the protruding bar. In a preferred embodiment, the rocking motion of the seat back portion has a rocking angie in a range of 65° to 80°.

In order to improve the chair of the present invention, feature such as adjustable reclining angle of the seat back portion has been included into the seat back frame, additional to the resilient member (130) that providing the rocking motion of the seat back portion which has been discussed above. In a preferred embodiment, the seat back frame is constructed at the lower part of the seat back portion: in particular the entire chair mechanism which enables rocking motion and adjustable seat back portion in terms of inclination is configured on the lower part of the seat back portion. A support member (120) is engaged to the L-shaped flange (110). A fastening means (140) is provided for adjustably securing the support member (120) to the L-shaped flange (110), thereby allowing an adjustable reclining angle of the seat back portion, in one embodiment, said support member (120) is held vertically towards the L-shaped flange (110) and secured to the L-shaped flange (110) by the fastening means (140) such as bolt and nut or machine screw, whereby the seat back portion is in the upright or vertical position, in another embodiment, the support member (120) is held slanted with the reclining angle in a range of 65* to 80°, whereby the seat back portion can be tilted rearward in the range of 65° to 80° from vertical position of the seat back portion. Meanwhile, the rocking motion of the seat back portion is still applicable at any pre-adjusted reclining angle. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, also shown in the appended figures, it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications can be done within the scope of the invention as described in the specification and defined in the following claims.

Description of the reference numerals used in the accompanying drawings according to the present invention:

Claims

I/We claim: 1. A chair (100) comprising a seat back portion and a seat portion, wherein the seat back portion is defined by a seat back frame, characterised in that the seat back frame comprises:

a resilient member (130) engaged with the protruding bar forgiving a rocking motion to the seat back portion when a force is exerted thereto; a support member (120) engaged to the L-shaped flange (110), and a fastening means (140) for adjustably securing the support member (120) to the L-shaped flange (110), thereby allowing an adjustable reclining angle of the seat back portion. 2. The chair (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding bar is positioned perpendicular to the L-shaped flange (110). 3. The chair (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the protruding bar is provided with helices along its length. 4. The chair (100) according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member (130) is made of rubber, foam, or silicone material. 5. The chair (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the rocking motion of the seat back portion has a rocking angle in a range of 65° to 80°. 6. The chair (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the reclining angle of the seat back portion is in a range of 65° to 80* from vertical position of the seat back portion.