U.S. patent number 3,858,937 [Application Number 05/361,591] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-07 for dental chair and adjustable head support mechanism therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Arnold's Auto Upholstery, Inc.. Invention is credited to Floyd E. Norris.
United States Patent |
3,858,937 |
Norris |
January 7, 1975 |
DENTAL CHAIR AND ADJUSTABLE HEAD SUPPORT MECHANISM THEREFOR
Abstract
A dental chair is disclosed which has an adjustable headrest
incorporating a flush mounted adjustment mechanism allowing (1)
adjustment about a central pivot, (2) vertical adjustment or (3)
forward and rear adjustment. The dental chair also incorporates
deflectable "wing" portions adjacent each of the arm supports which
do not need adjustment and which allow the dentist more ready
access to the patient.
Inventors: |
Norris; Floyd E. (Renton,
WA) |
Assignee: |
Arnold's Auto Upholstery, Inc.
(Seattle, WA)
|
Family
ID: |
23422641 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/361,591 |
Filed: |
May 18, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/408;
297/284.9; 297/411.46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G
15/125 (20130101); A47C 7/38 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
7/36 (20060101); A47C 7/38 (20060101); A61G
15/12 (20060101); A61G 15/00 (20060101); A47c
001/10 (); A47c 003/00 (); A47c 007/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/284,391
;297/399,405,407-410,421,422,460 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Seed, Berry, Vernon &
Baynham
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An adjustment mechanism linking a head support and means for
attachment to the back support of a chair comprising:
an elongated linking member having two parallel annular openings
extending therethrough near each end,
slots in the linking member extending from the outer surface
thereof into communication with each of the annular openings, each
of the slots allowing the internal diameter of each of the annular
openings to be reduced by compression of the linking member
adjacent the slots;
an open-ended channel extending through the linking member
essentially transverse to the axis of each of the annular openings
and communicating with the slots and a segment of each of the
annular openings;
annular pins received in each of the annular openings, each pin
having an external diameter slightly less than the internal
diameter of the respective annular opening in the uncompressed
state, allowing free rotation thereof, each pin having a channel
extending around the outer circumference thereof;
means connecting one of the annular pins to the head support and
the other annular pin to the means for attachment to the back
support;
a pin extending through the open-ended channel of the linking
member communicating with the respective channels in the annular
pins to retain the annular pins in place in the linking member;
retaining means at one end of the pin to retain the pin in place in
the open-ended channel; and
cam means connected to the opposite end of the pin for exerting
tension on the pin relative to the linking member to compress the
linking member, reducing the diameter of the annular openings and
frictionally engaging the annular pins to lock them against
rotation.
2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the annular pin connected to
the head support comprises two unconnected arcuate segments and
wherein the means connecting the annular pin to the head support is
a rod having a width less than the diameter of the annular pin
extending between the two segments, the rod pivotally connected to
the segments midway between their ends for adjustment of the
headrest about the pivotal connection.
3. In a dental chair having a floor support, padded lower body
support, arm supports, head support and adjustable back support,
the improvement comprising providing flexible wing portions
extending from the upper terminating edge of the back support down
each side to a point adjacent the rear of each of the arm supports,
allowing a dentist or technician closer access to the patient
sitting in the chair by deflection of the wing portions and
providing an adjustment mechanism for the head support, the
mechanism comprising:
an elongated linking member having two parallel annular openings
extending therethrough near each end,
slots in the linking member extending from the outer surface
thereof into communication with each of the annular openings, each
of the slots allowing the internal diameter of each of the annular
openings to be reduced by compression of the linking member
adjacent the slots;
an open-ended channel extending through the linking member
essentially transverse to the axis of each of the annular openings
and communicating with the slots and a segment of each of the
annular openings;
annular pins received in each of the annular openings, each pin
having an external diameter slightly less than the internal
diameter of the respective annular opening in the uncompressed
state, allowing free rotation thereof, each pin having a channel
extending around the outer circumference thereof;
means connecting one of the annular pins to the head support and
the other annular pin to the means for attachment to the back
support;
a pin extending through the open-ended channel of the linking
member communicating with the respective channels in the annular
pins to retain the annular pins in place in the linking member;
retaining means at one end of the pin to retain the pin in place in
the open-ended channel; and
cam means connected to the opposite end of the pin for exerting
tension on the pin relative to the linking member to compress the
linking member, reducing the diameter of the annular openings and
frictionally engaging the annular pins to lock them against
rotation.
4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the annular pin connected to
the head support comprises two unconnected arcuate segments and
wherein the means connecting the annular pin to the head support is
a rod having a width less than the diameter of the annular pin
extending between the two segments, the rod pivotally connected to
the segments midway between their ends for adjustment of the
headrest about the pivotal connection.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dental chair and an improved adjustment
mechanism for the headrest of the chair.
2. Prior Art Relating to the Disclosure
Many of the chairs used by dentists and other professionals have
adjustable headrest assemblies which are expensive to fabricate,
cumbersome, inadequately adjustable and annoying to operate. It is
also conventional for dental chairs to incorporate arm slings
extending from the top of the back support of the chair to the arm
supports, which keep the patient's arms and hands close to the
body, out of the way of the technician or professional. The slings
are always slipping loose and needing adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a dental chair incorporating an
adjustable headrest which is vertically adjustable, adjustable
about a central pivot point and adjustable both forward and
rearward. The adjustable headrest comprises a support connecting to
the back support of the chair at one end and to the adjustment
mechanism at the opposite end. A padded headrest includes means
connecting it with the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment
mechanism includes: (1) an elongated linking member having upper
and lower, variable size jaw openings therein receiving the
connecting means of the support and the headrest; (2) a pin
extending through the linking member holding the connecting means
in place; and (3) means secured to the pin at one end contacting a
camming surface on the linking member for contracting the jaw
openings about the connecting means, preventing their movement.
The invention is also directed to a dental chair including
integral, deflectable "wing" portions extending between the arm
support and the top of the back support which (1) are flexible, (2)
allow the dentist or technician to work closer to the patient, if
desired, and (3) do not need adjustment.
The objects of this invention are: (1) to provide an improved
adjustment mechanism for the headrest of a chair which is
relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate and flush
mounted to prevent interference with the dentist or technician and
for design purposes; (2) to provide a dental chair incorporating an
improved, flush mounted adjustment mechanism for a headrest; (3) to
provide a dental chair incorporating flexible, deflectable wing
portions which do not need adjustment and which allow the operator
closer access to the patient sitting in the chair; and (4) to
provide a dental chair having a back support hinged to the lower
body support forward of the terminating edge of the lower body
support, the back support having a curved, barrel-like
appearance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dental chair of the invention
having a cut-away portion illustrating one of the flexible wings of
the chair;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the headrest including the
adjustment mechanism;
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view along section line 3--3
of FIG. 2 illustrating the adjustment mechanism;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view along section line 4--4
of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the flexible wing
portion of the chair.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the dental chair of this
invention having a lower floor support 10, a padded lower body
support 11 secured to the floor support 10 and a padded, integral
back support 12 hinged at 21a to the lower body support forward of
the rear terminating edge of the lower body support 11. The frames
of the lower body support 11 and back support 12 are fabricated
from steel plating one-eighth inch to five-sixteenths inch
thickness over which is placed padding as an outer decorative
upholstery covering, such as leather, naugahyde or vinyl. The back
support has arm supports 14 attached at each side. Each of the arm
supports includes a rigid steel frame, padding and covering similar
to that of the lower body support and back support. Directly behind
each of the arm supports is an arcuate member 15 secured to the
frame of the back support, as illustrated by FIG. 1. A stiff,
semi-rigid material, such as a thick plastic sheet 17, is stretched
over the arcuate members and between the arm supports and the top
of the frame of the back support prior to covering of the entire
chair with the outer decorative covering, as illustrated by FIG. 5.
The end result is a flexible, deflectable wing portion 16 beside
each arm which does not need adjustment and allows the operator or
technician to get closer to the patient sitting in the chair, if
necessary. The wing portions can be deflected inwardly. On release
of the deflection pressure, the wing portions will return to their
original position due to the stiff material extending from the top
of the back support over the arcuate portion 15 directly behind
each of the arm supports 14. The rear of the back support includes
a slot 18 for insertion of the adjustable headrest assembly to be
discussed.
The adjustable headrest assembly is illustrated by FIGS. 2 through
4 and essentially comprises a headrest support frame 39 covered
with a padded front portion 40 and a padded rear portion 41
connected by an adjustment mechanism to an elongated support plate
19. The headrest assembly is adjusted vertically relative to the
back support by sliding in slot 18. The assembly is held in a
desired adjustment position by a friction clamp (not shown). The
supporting frame 39 of the headrest support has a center cut-out
portion, as illustrated by FIG. 2, allowing the adjustment
mechanism to be essentially flush mounted within the headrest
assembly.
The adjustment mechanism comprises essentially an elongated,
rectangular linking member 21 having bore openings 22 and 23
drilled therethrough at the upper and lower ends, respectively.
Slots 24 and 25, cut in the linkmember 21, as illustrated by FIG.
3, communicate with the bore openings 22 and 23. The slots allow
the internal diameter of the bore openings 22 and 23 to be reduced
by compression of the linking member 21. A channel 26 is bored at
transverse angles through the length of the linking member 21 to
receive pin 30. The channel intersects the bore openings 22 and 23
and projects a small distance into the bore openings, as
illustrated by FIG. 4. The bore openings 22 and 23 are fitted with
pins 27 and 28, having an outer diameter slightly less than the
internal diameter of the openings 22 and 23, so that they are free
to rotate in the absence of compressive force on the elongated
linking member 21, tending to reduce the internal diameter of the
bore openings 22 and 23. Pin 27 consists essentially of two
separate arcuate segments held in spaced relation by a rod 36
having a width less than the diameter of the pin 27. The rod 36 is
secured to the segments by a pivot pin 37 extending through the
rod, as illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4. The pivot pin allows the rod
to pivot thereabout between the positions shown in phantom in FIG.
4. The rod 36 is connected by collars 38 to the headrest support
frame 39. The headrest can thus be pivoted about the pivot pin 37
to a desired position and locked in place, as will be
described.
The lower pin 28 extends beyond the plane of the member 21 on each
side and includes a slot extending part way therethrough which
receives the forks 42 of support plate 19, as illustrated by FIG.
2. The pin 28 is secured in place to the plate 19 by bolts 43.
Each of the pins 27 and 28 has a central channel 29 cut therein, as
illustrated by FIG. 4, of a depth sufficient to allow pin 30 to be
inserted through the channel 26. The purpose of the channels 29, in
cooperation with pin 30, is to secure the pins 27 and 28 in place
in the linking member.
The pin 30, extending through channel 26 and securing the pins 27
and 28 in place, has a threaded portion 31 on the lower end over
which is fitted a nut 32. The nut bears against a shoulder cut in
the lower end of the linking member 21. The upper end of the pin 30
is pivotally connected to a cam member 34 bearing against a cam
surface 33 cut in the upper end of linking member 21. The cam
member 34 includes an integral handle 35 movable between the
positions illustrated by FIG. 3. In the position shown in solid
lines in FIG. 3, the pin in cooperation with the cam surface 34
exerts a compressive force on the respective ends of the linking
member 21 compressing and closing the slots 24 and 25. As a result
the internal diameter of openings 22 and 23 is reduced so that each
frictionally engages the outer surfaces of pins 27 and 28 and
prevents their rotation. When the handle 35 is moved to the
position shown in phantom in FIG. 3, the compressive force on the
linking member 21 is released, allowing the pins 27 and 28 to
rotate freely within the bore openings 22 and 23.
The headrest portion of the adjustable headrest assembly can easily
be adjusted relative to support plate 19 by moving the handle 35 to
the position shown in phantom in FIG. 3 and rotating the headrest
about either of the upper or lower pins 27 and 28 and pivoting the
headrest about pivot pin 37 as desired. Once the desired position
of the headrest is obtained, the operator presses the handle 35
down to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 to lock all the
components together and prevent further rotation or movement. The
headrest can be adjusted to any desired position very easily and
quickly. The adjustment mechanism is flush mounted within the
headrest assembly, is simple to operate and is relatively
inexpensive to fabricate. The dentist or technician can adjust the
patient's head to any desired angle for mouth work or denture work
very easily and without complication.
* * * * *