Stackable Chair Kneeler

Abstract

A stackable chair kneeler having a padded horizontal portion mounted on a kneeler frame which is pivotally attached to a U-shaped subframe and swingable between a down position wherein the padded portion may be knelt upon and a retracted position wherein it is held by detents in coplanar alignment with the U-shaped subframe. The U-shaped subframe in turn is swingable between an operative position in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the chair and a storage position lying just underneath the seat, with the subframe being selectively held in said operative and storage positions by spring loaded retractable studs or detents engageable in suitable holes drilled in the frame of the chair.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stackable chair kneeler and more particularly to a kneeler mounted on a chair which may be stored with other chairs of similar construction in vertical stacks.

Church kneelers are used to provide a raised cushion for members of the congregation when kneeling during certain portions of the services. Such kneelers are usually mounted with freedom of swinging movement between an active horizontal position and an inactive upright position. During the church services, it becomes necessary from time to time to swing the kneelers from one position to the other, and vice versa. Such devices are typically in the form of cushioned benches provided with arms arranged to be pivotally connected to vertical supports mounted on the backs of pews to permit their being easily moved to a lower position of use and to an out-of-the-way position of nonuse so as to provide walking space between the pews.

It has often become necessary and convenient in modern churches to use individual stackable chairs rather than long pews for services. Such chairs may be moved from a sanctuary to other portions of the church and used for non-ecclasiastical purposes. When not in use, such chairs may be vertically stacked for convenient storage. In order to use stackable chairs for services, it has become necessary to provide kneelers mounted on the backs of the chairs. Prior art kneelers for individual chairs have typically proven not to be adapted for use on stackable chairs because of interference with the stacking configuration. Furthermore the complexity of such previously known kneeler constructions does not lend itself to chairs which are permanent in shape and vertically stackable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a kneeler for a stackable chair having a padded horizontal portion mounted on a kneeler frame. The kneeler frame is pivotally attached to a U-shaped subframe and is swingable between a down position wherein the padded portion may be knelt upon and a retracted position wherein it is releasably held by detents in coplanar alignment with the U-shaped subframe.

In the preferred embodiment, the kneeler frame is also U-shaped. The subframe is provided with spring loaded retractable studs engageable in suitable holes drilled in the frame. In this embodiment, therefore, the subframe may be secured in an operative position in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the chair, or in a storage position lying just beneath the seat of the chair. The studs are slidable in the cross bar of the subframe and are retracted by means of upstanding members which protrude through suitable slots formed in the cross bar.

In an alternative embodiment, the kneeler frame is rectagular in shape. The spring loaded retractable studs are mounted on a cross bar of the kneeler frame and through both sides bars of the U-shaped subframe to hold the subframe in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the chair. In this embodiment, the subframe may be held in the storage position by suitable detents.

A pair of short legs project at an angle from the kneeler frame in either embodiment. These legs provide support when the frame is in the down position. The legs do not interfere with ordinary use of the chair either when the kneeler is retracted or when the entire assembly is swung up into the storage position. Ears are mounted on the subframe to limit the upward swinging movement of the kneeler frame so that it will halt at the retracted position.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a kneeler for stackable chairs.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of spring loaded retractable studs mounted on a chair kneeler apparatus for retaining the kneeler in a desired position.

A further object is to provide a U-shaped kneeler for stackable chairs having a subframe with spring loaded retractable studs for selectively retaining the subframe in an operative position in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the chair or in a storage position just beneath the seat.

Still another object is the provision of a rectangular shaped kneeler for stackable chairs having spring loaded retractable studs mounted through the side bars of a U-shaped subframe for releasably retaining the subframe in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the chair.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of detent means formed on a subframe operative in conjunction with a rectangular shaped kneeler frame for retaining the kneeler and subframe in a storage position.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in junction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and installed on a stackable chair.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stackable chair having a kneeler according to the present invention stacked on the frame of another stackable chair;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the plane of line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the kneeler shown in FIG. 5 in its retracted position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a stackable chair kneeler 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention having a kneeler frame 11 swingably mounted on a subframe 12 which is held by spring loaded retractable studs 13 and 14 in either an operative position in coplanar alignment with rear legs 16 and 17 of stackable chair 10 or in a storage position (shown in phantom in FIG. 3) just beneath the chair seat 18.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the kneeler frame 11 is U-shaped, having crossbars 21 and 22 and a padded horizontal portion 19. The kneeler frame further has short legs 23 and 24 which project at an angle from the plane of the kneeler frame 11 to provide supports therefor when the frame is in the down position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the kneeler frame 11 is retracted into coplanar alignment with rear legs 16 and 17 as shown in FIG. 4, the short legs 23 and 24 are out of the way and do not interfere with ordinary use of the chair. When the kneeler frame is swung up to the storage position, the short legs 23 and 24 are in coplanar alignment with the rear legs 16 and 17 as shown in FIG. 2. The short legs are therefore out of the way in the storage position as well.

The kneeler 11 is connected to subframe 12 for swinging movement between its operative and storage positions, by pivot pins 26 and 27 and here is releasably held in coplanar alignment with the subframe 12 by suitable detents 28 and 29 engageable in holes or recesses suitably placed on the subframe. The kneeler frame may thereby be held in either coplanar alignment with the rear legs 16 and 17 of the stackable chair 10 as shown in FIG. 4 or in the storage position lying just underneath the seat 18 as shown in phantom in FIG. 3.

The U-shaped subframe 12 is swingably connected to the chair legs 16 and 17 by pivot pins 33 and 34 as shown in FIG. 4. The retractable studs 13 and 14 engage in suitable holes, drilled in the rear legs 16 and 17 respectively, to hold the subframe in coplanar alignment with the rear legs 16 and 17. The studs 13 and 14 are advanced and retracted by upstanding members 31 and 32 which protrude through suitable slots in the crossbar 35 of U-shaped subframe 12 to permit the subframe to be swung into the storage position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3. Studs 13 and 14 are urged outwardly by a spring 35 contained in crossbar 35 for selective engagement in suitable recesses formed in the front legs of the chair 10 to retain the subframe 12 in the storage position.

Shoulder members 36 and 37 mounted on subframe 12 limit the upward swinging movement of the kneeler frame 11 to halt it in the retracted position where it is releasably held by detents 28 and 29 which engage holes 25 and 30 respectively. the kneeler frame 11 is thereby retained in coplanar alignment with the subframe 12 when the subframe is either in coplanar alignment with the rear legs 16 or 17 or in the storage position directly beneath the seat 18. The subframe 12 has shoulders 40 and 45 mounted thereon to limit the downward swinging movement of the subframe so that it will halt in coplanar alignment with the rear legs 16 and 17.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the kneeler frame 38 is rectangular in shape and has spring loaded retractable studs 39 and 41 held through a crossbar 42 on the kneeler frame 38. The studs are mounted through the side members of a U-shaped subframe 43 and urged in the expanded position by a spring 44 which loads the studs as shown in FIG. 6.

The subframe 43 is halted from swinging outwardly beyond coplanar alignment with the rear legs by shoulders 66 and 67. Studs 39 and 41 with mating holes 46 and 47 respectively hold the subframe 43 in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the chair. The subframe is pivotally connected with rear legs 48 and 49 by pivot pins 51 and 52 respectively. The kneeler frame 38 may be retracted into coplanar alignment with the subframe 43 as shown in FIG. 6 and retained in that position by detents 53 and 54 mounted on opposite sides of the U-shaped subframe 43 as shown. Shoulder members 56 and 57 on the U-shaped subframe 43 limit the upward swinging movement of the kneeler frame 38 to halt it in the retracted position.

The studs 39 and 41 are each connected to protruding members 58 and 59 which may be urged together to retract the studs. The subframe 43 may be released from coplanar alignment with the rear legs 48 and 49 by squeezing the protruding members together against spring 44. The subframe 44 with the kneeler frame held in coplanar alignment therewith by detents 53 and 54 may then be swung around pivot pins 51 and 52 into the storage position lying just under the seat of the chair.

Detents 61 and 62 mounted on subframe 43, as shown in FIG. 6, engage holes 63 and 64 respectively on the chair to retain the subframe 43, with the kneeler frame 38 held in coplanar alignment therewith, in the storage position just underneath the seat of the chair.

The short legs which project from the kneeler frame 38 at an angle provide support for the frame in the down position. When the kneeler is not in use it may be swung into coplanar alignment with the subframe as shown in FIG. 6. The short legs are therefore out-of-the-way and do not interfere with ordinary use of the chair either when the kneeler frame is retracted as shown in FIG. 6, or when the entire assembly is swung up to the storage position.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise or as specifically described.

Claims

I claim:

1. A kneeler for stackable chairs, comprising

a subframe formed for pivotal mounting on a stackable chair for selective swinging movement between an operative position in substantially coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the chair and a storage position subjacent to the underside of the chair seat leaving the space between said rear legs unencumbered, and

a kneeler frame pivotally mounted on said subframe for selective swinging movement between a retracted position and a lowered position adapted for kneeling.

2. A kneeler as described in claim 1 and further comprising holding means for releasably retaining said subframe in its operative and storage positions.

3. The device as described in claim 1 and further comprising detent means mounted on said kneeler frame and said subframe for retaining said kneeler frame in coplanar alignment with said subframe when said kneeler frame is in the retracted position.

4. The device as described in claim 3 and wherein said kneeler frame is U-shaped.

5. The device as described in claim 2 and wherein said holding means further comprises at least one spring loaded retractable stud for selectively retaining said subframe in its operative position in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the stackable chair and its storage position underneath the seat of the stackable chair.

6. The device as described in claim 5 and wherein said subframe is U-shaped having a crossbar and said retractable stud is mounted on said crossbar of said subframe.

7. The device as described in claim 1 and wherein said subframe is formed with a shoulder engageable by said kneeler frame for limiting the upward swinging movement of said kneeler frame to thereby halt said kneeler frame in the retracted position.

8. The device as described in claim 3 and wherein said detent means includes a pair of detents mounted on said kneeler frame for further retaining said kneeler frame in coplanar alignment with said subframe when said kneeler frame is in the retracted position.

9. The device as described in claim 1 and wherein said kneeler frame further comprises short legs formed thereon to provide support therefor when said kneeler frame is in the down position.

10. The device as described in claim 9 and wherein said short legs project at an angle from the plane of said kneeler frame so as to be in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the chair when the kneeler is in the storage position.

11. The device as described in claim 3 and wherein said kneeler frame is rectangular in shape having at least one crossbar.

12. The device as described in claim 1 and wherein said kneeler frame further comprises spring loaded retractable stud means mounted through said subframe for retaining said subframe in its operative position in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of the stackable chair and providing the pivotal mounting between said subframe and said kneeler frame.

13. The device as described in claim 1 and wherein said subframe further comprises detent means for releasably retaining said subframe in said storage position underneath the seat of the stackable chair.

14. The device as described in claim 5 and wherein said kneeler frame is formed with a hollow crossbar, and said spring loaded retractable stud means is mounted in said hollow crossbar.

15. The device as described in claim 14 and wherein said spring loaded retractable stud means further comprises manually engageable means for retracting said stud against the spring loading.

16. The device as described in claim 5 and wherein said spring loaded retractable stud is mounted on said subframe.

17. The device as described in claim 16 and wherein said subframe has a hollow crossbar, and a pair of spring loaded retractable studs protrude therefrom for engagement with the chair.

18. The device as described in claim 17 and wherein a pair of manually engageable members project through slots in said crossbar for retracting said studs.

19. A stackable chair kneeler, comprising

a chair having a seat and substantially inverted U-shaped side elements providing downwardly diverging legs, said chair being stackable with other chairs of similar configuration and with its legs nesting with the legs of the chairs above and below,

a subframe pivotally mounted to the legs of said chair adjacent to said seat and formed for selective swinging movement between an operative position in substantially coplanar alignment between the rear legs of said chair and a storage position closely underlying said seat,

a kneeler frame pivotally on said subframe for selective swinging movement between a retracted position in generally coplanar alignment with said subframe and a lowered position for kneeling, and

holding means formed for releasably retaining said subframe in said operative and storage positions.

20. A stackable chair kneeler as described in claim 19 and further comprising detent means mounted on said kneeler frame and said subframe for retaining said kneeler frame in coplanar alignment with said subframe when said kneeler frame is in the retracted position.

21. A stackable chair kneeler as described in claim 19 and wherein said kneeler frame further comprises short legs formed thereon to provide support therefor when said kneeler frame is in the down position, and said short legs project at an angle from the plane of said kneeler frame so as to be in coplanar alignment with the rear legs of said chair when the kneeler is in the storage position.

22. A stackable chair kneeler as described in claim 19 and wherein said subframe is rectangular in shape, and said kneeler frame nests in generally coplanar relation within said subframe when in said retracted position.

23. A kneeler for chairs and benches having a seat and spaced apart supports at the rear, comprising

a subframe formed for pivotal mounting on the chairs and benches for selective swinging movement between an operative position between said supports and a storage position underside to the underneath of the seat leaving open the space between said supports,

means for selectively holding said subframe in said operative and storage positions,

a kneeler frame pivotally mounted on said subframe for movement between a retracted position in generally coplanar relation to said subframe and a lowered position extending therefrom for kneeling,

and means for selectively holding said kneeler frame in its said retracted position relative to said subframe when the latter is in its said storage position subjacent to the underside of the seat.