Reclining Chair

This invention relates to reclining chairs and more particularly comprises a new and improved recliner which functions effectively as an executive high-back desk chair with a swivel base.

Conventional recliner type-chairs cannot function comfortably as desk chairs because they lack several features required to serve that purpose. For example, recliner chairs conventionally have footrests that do not allow the chair occupant to place his/her feet flat on the floor below the seat when the chair is in the upright position. The footrest in a conventional recliner extends vertically downward from the front edge of the seat, and the chair occupant cannot bring his/her feet rearwardly beneath the seat into a normal resting position. Furthermore, the recliners presently available do not have a swivel-type base with casters but rather are supported on a fixed base which cannot roll about on the floor to enable the occupant to position him/her self close to the working surface of a desk or table. On the other hand, executive high-back chairs do not include footrests, and the back and seat, although tiltable on the base provide no comfortable support for the occupant's legs and cannot be locked in an intermediate position.

The chair of the present invention includes many important ergonomic features of an executive high-back chair, but in addition provides a very comfortable stress free, reclining position for the occupant. As a result, the chair of the present invention may be used in many different positions either in the home or office. That is, the chair provides ergonomical support for the occupant when in the upright position so that it may be used comfortably at a desk, and it may be placed in a semi-reclined position for a relaxed phone conversation or reading, and the chair may also be placed in a fully reclined position for an invigorating break whenever desired.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the chair has a swivel-type, pedestal base including a frame which pivotally carries a body support assembly including a back, seat and footrest. The back and seat are in fixed angular relationship with one another while the footrest is pivotally connected to the front of the seat so that its angular position may be changed with respect to the seat. The body support assembly may be locked by the occupant in any selected position between an upright and fully reclined position simply by activating brake mechanisms which are conveniently positioned on each side of the body support. A linkage mechanism is mounted beneath the seat and connected to both the base and footrest, which automatically elevates the footrest from an inactive position wherein the footrest is tucked underneath the seat so as not to interfere with the chair occupant when the chair is in the upright position, to an elevated position wherein the footrest is disposed substantially horizontally when the chair is in the fully reclined position so as to support the occupant's legs at a height above the heart to promote circulation.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a reclining chair constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in the upright position;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the chair shown in FIG. 1 and illustrated in the partially recline (or intermediate) and fully reclined positions, respectively;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are diagrammatic, fragmentary side views of the chair of FIGS. 1-3 and showing the footrest elevating mechanism in its upright, intermediate and fully reclined positions, respectively;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the brake assembly and bracket that carries the seat and backrest assembly in the chair of FIGS. 1-6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation view of the brake assembly and bracket shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic side view of the brake assembly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the brake disk.

The recliner executive desk chair invention shown in the drawings is embodied in a pedestal-swivel-type chair 22 having a pedestal which includes a height adjustable center post 24 carried on a base 26 having a plurality of radial feet 28 each bearing a caster 30. The top of the post 24 carries a broad U-shaped frame 34 that extends from one side of the chair to the other. The pedestal height adjustment mechanism (not shown) is controlled by a handle 35.

The U-shaped frame 34 includes essentially parallel front and rear members 36 and 38 that are connected together by several essentially horizontal braces 40 disposed at the top and bottom of the frame 34. A horizontal plate 42 also joins the front and rear member 36 and 38, and it carries a coupling 43 that joins the frame 34 to the top of the post 24.

A brake cover plate 50 is secured on each side of the frame 34 attached to the upper horizontal brace 40 as is evidence in FIGS. 4-7. The cover plates 50 that are made of heavy gauge sheet steel or material of comparable strength, carry coaxial axles 52 which in turn pivotally support brackets 53 that are part of the body support assembly 55 of the chair. The assembly 55 includes a back 54, seat 56 and footrest 58. The brackets 53 form the base of the body support assembly 55 and are arcuate in shape as shown in FIG. 7. The brackets have mounting plates 53a and 53b that establish a fixed angular relationship between the back 54 and seat 56 to which they are connected, in all positions of the body support 55. The footrest 58 on the other hand is pivotally connected to the front edge 60 of the seat 56 by hinges 62 so that the angular relationship between the seat 56 and foot rest 58 may be varied in response to tilting of the body support assembly 55 on the axles 52. Armrests 64 are provided on each side of the frame 34 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and remain fixed as the body support 55 pivots on the axles 52.

FIGS. 7-9 show the brake assembly 70 that locks the body support 55 in any selected angular position on the axles 52. While the brake assembly 70 on but one side of the chair frame 34 is illustrated and described, duplicate assemblies which are mirror images of each other preferably are provided on both sides of the chair. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket 53 which pivots on the axle 52 is carried by a bushing 72 that also carries a brake disk 74. Thus, the brake disk 74 pivots with the bracket 53 on axle 52 as the position of the body support 55 is changed at the will of the chair occupant. The disk brake 74 is pie-shaped, and its arcuate edge 76 moves in a vertical slot 78 in a brake block 80 that floats horizontally on a pair of pins 82 secured to the brake cover plate 50. The brake block 80 which is generally U-shaped has a threaded hole 84 in its outer leg 86 that receives a stud 88 connected to the brake handle 90. The stud is rotatably supported on the cover plate 50 but is free to move axially on the plate. Simply by turning the stud 88 by means of the handle, the brake block 80 will be moved so as to cause its inner leg 87 to bear against the disk 74 and the end of the stud 88 to engage the opposite face of the brake disk and prevent the body support assembly 55 from moving with respect to the frame 34. By turning the stud in the opposite direction by means of handle 90, the brake block and stud may be made to release the brake disk so as to allow the body support 55 to pivot freely on the axles 52.

It should be noted in the drawings that both the adjustable brake block 80 and the bushing 72 which carries the brake disk 74 float freely on the support pins 82 and axle 52, respectively. This feature provides a substantial tolerance for body supports of different widths which may be carried within the U-shaped frame 34. While the frame 34 may be made to close tolerances as it is normally made of steel, the body support 55 may include a plywood back and upholstered cushions and therefore vary substantially from one unit to another, and the U-shaped frame must be able to accommodate those variable dimensions if the chair is to be capable of being mass produced and priced within a reasonable range.

While in the illustrated embodiment, the handle 90 is shown to control the position of the stud 88 which in turn adjusts the break block 80, it will be appreciated that a knob-shaped handle on the stud may replace handle 90 and it may be conveniently engaged by the chair occupant to lock and unlock the body support in an infinite variety of angular positions.

In FIG. 4-6, the linkage mechanism 100 for automatically elevating and retracting the foot rest 58 in response to pivotal motion of the body support assembly 55 on the axles 52 is shown in detail. It should be noted that when the chair is in the upright position of FIGS. 1 and 4, the footrest 58 is fully retracted out of the way beneath the seat 56, and will not in any way interfere with the feet of the chair occupant as he/she enters or leaves the chair nor will it inhibit the occupant from placing his/her feet flat on the floor beneath the front of the seat. The footrest 58 remains elevated in its operative position and forms a continuation of the seat 56 when the chair is partially or fully reclined. The mechanism 100 is connected to the seat 56, footrest 58 and the frame 34 and is disposed intermediate the sides of the chair. The mechanism is composed of five separate links 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110, and is connected to bracket 112 fixed to the bottom 114 of the footrest 58, to the bracket 116 on the bottom 118 of seat 56 and to the bracket 120 fixed to and extending forwardly from the front of the frame 34. The mechanism 100 is most clearly shown in FIG. 6 wherein the chair is shown in the fully reclined position. As seen in that figure, one end of the link 102 is pivotally connected by pivot 122 to the bracket 112 on the bottom of the footrest 58, and the other end of link 102 is pivotally connected by pivot 124 to one end of link 104. Links 102 and 104 form a scissors linkage and together comprise an over center lock for supporting the footrest in the fully extended position. This action is described in greater detail below. A pivot 126 connects the other end of link 104 to the bracket 116 fixed to and movable with the seat 56.

The links 106 and 108 are pivotally connected together at their adjacent respective ends by a pivot 128 while the other end of link 106 is connected by means of pivot pin 130 in a slot 132 in the mid-portion of link 104. The opposite end of link 108 is connected by means of a fixed pivot 134 to the forward end of the bracket 120 on the frame 34.

Link 110 is pivotally connected at its upper end as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by pin 140 to the free end of link 104 on the far side of pivot 126 which connects the link 104 to bracket 116. The other end of link 110 is not connected at a fixed point to other links but rather is provided with a long arcuate slot 142 which is enlarged as shown at 144 in the mid-portion of link 110. The fixed pivot 134 on the bracket 120 extends into slot 142 and slides along the length of the slot when the footrest is moved between the extreme positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Link 108 adjacent its pivot 134 carries a pin 146 also disposed in slot 142.

When the body support assembly 55 is in the upright position shown in FIG. 4, the scissors linkage composed of link 102 and 104 is folded about the pivot 124 so that the two links substantially overlie one another. Similarly, the links 106 and 108 that comprise a second scissors linkage are folded upon one another about the pivot 128 so that the two links are substantially superimposed. In that position of the chair, control link 110 is almost horizontal with the pivot 134 and pin 146 disposed in the enlarged end 144 of slot 142.

As the body support assembly 55 begins to pivot rearwardly about the axle 52, the relative positions of the seat 56 and footrest 58 remain fixed while the control link 110 turns clockwise slightly causing the pivot 134 and pin 146 to move toward the lower end of the enlarged portion 144 of the slot 142. Ultimately, the pivot 134 engages the shoulder 150 in the enlarged portion 144 of the slot, and prevents the link 110 from being pulled further upwardly with the seat 56. Consequently the control link 110 pivots clockwise about the pin 146 which in turn causes the link 104 to pivot clockwise on pivot 126. That action in turn causes the link 102 to push upwardly on the bracket 112 on the bottom of the footrest so as to begin the extension of the footrest from its tucked position underneath the seat toward its fully extended position. Continued rearward tilting motion of the body support assembly 55 causes the links 102 and 104 to become aligned with one another on pivot 124 which joins the two, and ultimately that pivot 124 passes over center so as to lock the footrest in its fully extended position with respect to the seat as shown in FIG. 6. It will be noted that stops 152 and 154 are provided on the end of link 102 at a fixed radius from the pivot 124. A pin 156 carried at the end of link 104 is positioned to engage the two stops so as to limit the over center travel in (both directions) of the scissors linkage made up of the links 102 and 104. Note in FIGS. 4 and 6 the pin 156 engaging the separate stops. In the embodiment shown, full extension of the footrest is achieved when the body support assembly pivots rearwardly approximately 20-25.degree. from the upright position. During the initial reclining motion of approximately 10.degree., the footrest does not move with respect to the seat. Further reclining motion of the body support 55 to the fully reclined position of FIGS. 3 and 6 causes the control link 110 to be drawn upwardly by the link 104 as the pin 146 becomes aligned with the main portion of the slot 142, and both the pin 146 and pivot 134 move down the slot. The reclining motion of the body support is limited by the stop 160 (see 10) formed in the periphery of the brake disk 74 as it is engaged by the stud 88. The upright position of the seat is also established by a second stop 162 formed in the periphery of the brake disk 74. In the fully reclined position shown in FIG. 6, both scissors linkages made up of links 102 and 104, and 106 and 108, are essentially in the fully opened position and the pin 130 on the end of link 106 has moved to the lower end of the slot 132 in link 104.

As the chair begins its return to the upright position from the fully reclined position, the footrest 58 remains in the extended position as the pivot 134 and pin 146 travel upwardly in the slot 142 toward the enlarged upper end 144. The links 106 and 108, however, begin to fold about the pivot pin 128, but the links 102 and 104 remain in their over center, locked position shown in FIG. 6 so as to support the footrest 58 in the elevated position until the pivot 134 on the bracket 120 and the pin 146 reach the top of the curved portion of the slot 142. Continued motion of the body support assembly 55 carries the pivot 134 and pin 146 to the top of the enlarged end 144 of the slot 142, which then causes the control link 110 to pivot the link 104 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 126 which in turn causes the links 102 and 104 to pass over center and begin to fold upon one another. As the links 102 and 104 pass over center, the footrest 58 begins to pivot on its hinge 62 relative to the seat 56 toward its stored position tucked underneath the seat. At the same time, the pivot pin 130 disposed in the slot 132 in link 104 slides toward the opposite end thereof. Continued rotation of the body support to the fully upright position causes the footrest to fully retract beneath the seat 58 to the stored or inoperative position shown in FIGS. 1-4.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the chair of the present invention provides an infinite variety of positions between upright and fully reclined as the assembly 55 pivots about the axles 52. In the fully reclined position, the chair cradles the body from head to foot for maximum relaxation. The footrest is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane with the occupant's legs above the heart to promote circulation and relieve muscle tension. When the chair is brought to the upright position, the footrest is tucked out of the way beneath the seat so as not to interfere with access to or egress from the chair. The mechanism operates automatically to retract the footrest when the chair is brought to the upright position. Furthermore, the chair can be locked in any desired position by the occupant by means of the brake mechanisms 70 on each side of the chair.

Because of the retractability of the footrest, the chair not only functions effectively as a recliner but also enables the chair to be used as an executive high back desk chair with all of the conveniences of an office swivel chair. In summary, it may be used effectively as an ergonomically supportive upright desk chair as shown in FIG. 1, as a semi-recliner for relaxed phone conversations or reading as in FIG. 2, or as a full recliner for an invigorating break during a hectic workday.

Having described this invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications may be made thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Therefore, it is not intended that the breadth of the invention be limited to the single embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, the invention is to be interpreted by the breadth of the appended claims and their equivalents.