U.S. patent number RE33,704 [Application Number 07/380,522] was granted by the patent office on 1991-10-01 for rocker-recliner chair.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Parma Corporation. Invention is credited to Walter C. Rogers, Jr..
United States Patent |
RE33,704 |
Rogers, Jr. |
October 1, 1991 |
Rocker-recliner chair
Abstract
A rocker-recliner chair including a base, rocker cams mounted on
the base, a unitary seat and armrest assembly mounted on the rocker
cams by a novel linkage system for movement between a closed or
generally upright position with the associated footrest closed, a
TV position wherein the footrest has been extended and the seat
inclined relative to the rocker cam, and any one of a number of
advanced reclining positions where the footrest remains extended
and the backrest has moved relative to the seat while the seat has
moved relative to the rocker cam. When the chair is in the TV or
any advanced reclining position, a "rock-blocking" mechanism
prevents forward-rearward rocking of the cams relative to the base,
however, the cams are permitted to rock rearwardly to permit
movement of the seat into advanced reclining positions. In the
preferred embodiment, actuation of the footrest to the TV position
is initiated by means of a handle positioned on one side of the
chair. This opens a release mechanism to allow the chair to be
moved to TV position through the weight of the occupant of the
chair.
Inventors: |
Rogers, Jr.; Walter C. (Denton,
NC) |
Assignee: |
Parma Corporation (Denton,
NC)
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Family
ID: |
23815757 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/380,522 |
Filed: |
July 17, 1989 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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292700 |
Aug 13, 1981 |
4418957 |
|
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199595 |
Oct 22, 1980 |
4350387 |
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Reissue of: |
457181 |
Jan 11, 1983 |
04519647 |
May 28, 1985 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/85R;
297/DIG.7; 297/267.1; 297/270.1; 297/271.4; 297/85L |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
3/027 (20130101); A47C 1/0355 (20130101); Y10S
297/07 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
1/038 (20060101); A47C 1/031 (20060101); A47C
001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/85-88,261,271,DIG.7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Brown; Peter R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mouzavires; William E.
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part of my prior
copending application Ser. No. 292,700, filed Aug. 13, 1981, now
U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,957, entitled Recliner Chair With Improved
Actuation which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 199,595, filed Oct. 22, 1980, entitled
Recliner Chair With Improved Actuation, now U.S. Pat. No.
4,350,387. The present application is also related to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 264,144, filed May 15, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No.
4,350,386, entitled Recliner Chair With Improved Actuation which,
in turn, is another continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser.
No. 199,595, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,387 identified above.
.Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rocker-recliner chair comprising in combination, a support
base, a rocker cam assembly mounted on the base, a seat and armrest
fixed to each other as a unitary structure, a footrest, footrest
linkage means mounting the footrest to the seat for movement
between retracted and extended positions, seat linkage means
mounting the seat to the rocker cam assembly for movement relative
to the rocker cam assembly in response to the weight of a chair
occupant, linkage means interconnecting the seat linkage and the
footrest linkage for driving the footrest linkage to place the
footrest into extended position as the seat moves relative to the
rocker cam assembly, and a release means preventing the seat from
moving relative to the rocker cam assembly when the footrest is
retracted.
2. The chair defined in claim 1 wherein said seat linkage mounts
the seat for rotational movement relative to the rocker cam
assembly about an axis which is fixed relative to the seat and the
rocker cam assembly.
3. The chair defined in claim 2 wherein said seat linkage includes
a pivot at a front end portion of the seat about which the seat is
rotatable relative to the rocker cam assembly.
4. The chair defined in claim 3 wherein said rocker cam assembly
includes a rocker cam link fixed to cams, said seat linkage
including a seat link fixed to the seat and wherein, said rocker
cam link and said seat link are pivotally connected to each other
at said pivot defined in claim 3.
5. The chair defined in claim 1 further including a handle mounted
to the seat at one side of the chair for operating said release to
place the chair into reclining position with the footrest
extended.
6. The chair defined in claim 1 further including a rock-blocking
means for preventing forward-rearward rocking of the chair once the
footrest has been moved to extended position.
7. The chair defined in claim 6 further including a backrest,
backrest linkage means mounting the backrest to the seat while
being connected to the rocker cam assembly such that the backrest
is retained against movement relative to the seat and rocker-cam
assembly when the footrest is in retracted position but is freed to
move relative to the seat and the rocker cam assembly once the
footrest is extended to enable the seat to be placed into advanced
reclining positions upon exertion of pressure on the backrest.
8. The chair defined in claim 7 further including means
interconnecting the backrest linkage and the rock-blocking means
for raising the front end of the rocker cam assembly when the
backrest is moved relative to the seat to place the seat into
advanced reclining position.
9. The chair defined in claim 6 wherein said rock-blocking means
includes a constraining link pivotally connected to the base, a
keeper link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to the rocker
cam assembly and being pivotally connected at one end portion to
the constraining link, a pin link connected to the seat linkage and
having a locking pin, said keeper link having a slot adopted to
receive the locking pin, and a keeper actuating and control link
pivotally connected to the pin link and the keeper link.
10. The chair defined in claim 8 wherein said rock-blocking means
includes a constraining link pivotally connected to the base, a
keeper link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to the rocker
cam assembly and being pivotally connected at one end portion to
the constraining link, a pin link connected to the seat linkage and
having a locking pin, said keeper link having a slot adopted to
receive the locking pin, and a keeper actuating and control link
pivotally connected to the pin link and the keeper link.
11. A rocker-recliner chair comprising in combination, a support
base, a rocker cam assembly mounted on the base, a seat and armrest
fixed to each other as a unitary structure, a footrest, footrest
linkage means mounting the footrest to the seat for movement
between a retracted and extended position, seat linkage means
mounting the seat to the rocker cam assembly for rotation relative
to the rocker cam assembly about an axis located at the front
portion of the seat and which axis is fixed relative to the seat
and the rocker cam assembly, and means for driving the footrest
linkage to place the footrest into extended position as the seat
rotates relative to the rocker cam assembly.
12. The chair defined in claim 11 wherein the seat rotates
downwardly about said axis towards the rocker cam assembly when the
footrest is extended, and wherein there is further included means
for placing the seat into advanced reclined positions relative to
the rocker cam assembly during which the seat rotates upwardly
about said axis away from the rocker cam assembly.
13. A rocker recliner chair comprising a base, a rocker cam
assembly mounted on the base for rocking movement relative thereto,
a seat, linkage means mounting a seat relative to the rocker cam
assembly, said linkage means including a seat link extending
generally in a forward-rearward direction of the chair while being
fixed to the seat and being mounted for rotation relative to the
rocker cam assembly about an axis located at a front portion of the
chair and which is fixed relative to the seat link and the rocker
cam assembly, a backrest, backrest linkage mounting the backrest
relative to the seat, linkage means mounting a portion of the
backrest linkage relative to the rocker cam assembly at a rear
portion of the seat thereby mounting the rear portion of the seat
relative to the rocker cam assembly, footrest linkage means
mounting the footrest to the seat for movement between a retracted
positions extending below the front of the seat and an extended
position projected forwardly from the front of the seat, means for
driving the footrest between said retracted and extended positions
thereof, a rock-blocking means preventing forward-rearward rocking
movement of the rocking cam assembly relative to the base when the
footrest is in said extended position, and linkage means
interconnecting the rock-blocking means and said linkage which
mounts part of said backrest linkage to the rocker cam assembly
whereby said rock-blocking means is actuated to prevent
forward-rearward rocking movement of the rocker cam assembly
relative to the base when the footrest is extended.
14. A rocker-recliner chair comprising in combination, a base
support, a rocker cam assembly mounted on the base support, a seat,
linkage means mounting the seat to the rocker cam assembly, a
footrest, a footrest linkage mounting the footrest to the seat for
movement between extended and retracted positions, said footrest
linkage including a footrest mounting link pivotally mounted to the
seat for movement between extended and retracted positions, linkage
means for actuating the footrest mounting link for purposes of
extending the footrest, rock-blocking means for preventing
forward-rearward rocking movement of the rocker cam assembly on the
base support, said rock-blocking means including a constraining
link pivotally mounted to the base support, a keeper link having a
slot and being pivotally mounted to the rocker cam assembly and
pivotally connected to the constraining link, a pin link having a
pin adapted to be received in said slot of the keeper link when the
footrest is moved to extended position to prevent forward-rearward
rocking movement of the rocker cam assembly when the footrest is in
extended position, said pin link being operatively connected to
said linkage means which actuates the footrest mounting link, and a
link interconnecting the pin link and the keeper link for actuating
and controlling the keeper link.
15. A linkage system for a rocker-recliner chair of the type
including a base, a rocker cam assembly mounted on the base, a seat
mounted on the rocker cam assembly for movement with the rocker cam
assembly during forward-rearward rocking movement relative to the
base and also being movable relative to the rocker cam assembly
placing the seat into reclining positions, a backrest mounted
relative to the seat and the rocker cam assembly, for movement with
the seat and also for movement relative to the seat, a footrest
mounted to the seat for movement between a retracted position at
the front of the seat and an extended position projected forwardly
from the front of the seat; the linkage system comprising a seat
link adapted to be fixed to an associated seat to extend generally
in the forward-rearward direction of the associated chair, a cam
link adapted to be mounted to an associated rocking cam, a seat
link being mounted at a front end portion thereof relative to the
cam link for rotation about an axis which is fixed relative to the
seat and cam links, a backrest linkage adapted to mount the
associated backrest relative to the seat link, the backrest linkage
including a backrest link pivotally mounted to the seat link, and
linkage mounting the backrest link relative to the cam link, a
footrest linkage adapted to mount the associated footrest to the
seat, the footrest linkage including a footrest mounting link
pivotally mounted to the seat link, a draw bar link interconnecting
the footrest mounting link and the linkage which mounts the
backrest mounting link to the cam link, a rock-blocking linkage
including a keeper link pivotally mounted to the cam link and
having a slot therein, a constraining link pivotally connected to
one end portion of said keeper link and adapted to be pivotally
mounted to the associated base, a pin link having one end portion
including a pin adapted to be received in said slot of said keeper
link when the footrest linkage is extended, said pin link having an
opposite end portion pivotally connected to said draw bar to be
movable thereby, and an actuating and control link for the keeper
link, said actuating and control link being pivoted at one end
portion thereof to said pin link and being pivoted to an opposite
end portion thereof to said keeper link.
16. The linkage system defined in claim 15 wherein said linkage
which mounts said backrest mounting link relative to the cam link
includes a first link pivotally mounted to said backrest mounting
link and also being pivotally mounted to said cam link, and a
second link having its opposite ends pivotally mounted to said
first link and said cam link.
17. The linkage system defined in claim 16 wherein said draw bar
link retains the seat against movement relative to the cam link
when the footrest linkage is retracted and wherein there is
included means for releasing the draw bar to permit the seat to be
moved relative to the cam link about said fixed axis of rotation
while the footrest linkage moves to extended position.
18. The linkage system defined in claim 17 wherein said means for
releasing the draw bar link includes a handle mounted on one side
of the seat link.
19. The linkage system defined in claim 18 wherein the seat link is
moved relative to the cam link about said fixed axis of rotation
and the footrest linkage is moved to extended position by the
weight of an occupant of the associated chair when said handle is
moved to release position.
20. A rocker-recliner chair comprising in combination, a support
base, a rocker cam assembly mounted on the base, a seat and armrest
fixed to each other as a unitary structure, a footrest, footrest
linkage means mounting the footrest to the seat for movement
between retracted and extended positions, seat linkage means
mounting the seat to the rocker cam assembly for movement relative
to the rocker cam assembly, linkage means interconnecting the seat
linkage and the footrest linkage for driving the footrest linkage
to place the footrest into extended position as the seat moves
relative to the rocker cam assembly, means preventing the seat from
moving relative to the rocker cam assembly when the footrest is
retracted, and wherein said rocker cam assembly includes a rocker
cam, and said seat linkage includes a seat link fixed to the seat
and pivoted to a front end portion of the rocker cam for mounting
the seat for rotation relative to the rocker cam about an axis
which is fixed relative to the seat and the rocker cam.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Rocker-recliner chairs are of course old in the prior art as a
general category of chair. One type of rocker-recliner that has
been in use for many years basically consists of a standard
recliner chair whose armrests are mounted on rocker cams to provide
the desired rocking movement. The seat is mounted to the armrests
for movement relative to the armrest when the chair is moved to TV
position which movement is effected by pushing off the armrests to
exert pressure on the backrest which pivots rearwardly relative to
the seat while the seat moves rearwardly relative to the armrests.
This movement of the seat is achieved through a linkage mechanism
mounting the seat to the armrests to provide a certain amount of
translational movement of the seat relative to the armrests in the
rearward direction of the chair. While these chairs have certainly
gained acceptance in the industry, they are limited in the respect
that they cannot accommodate a T-cushion styling because the seat
is mounted to move relative to the armrests. Additionally, the
chair consumes a large space because of the mounting of the
armrests on the rocker cams and because of the translational
movement of the seat relative to the armrests when moving into
reclining positions. Moreover, the chair is susceptible to lurching
rearwardly when the footrest is extended to place the chair in TV
position. To overcome this possibility, it is necessary to add some
means to overcome or inhibit the tendency of the chair to
lurch.
Other types of rocker recliners have been developed with the object
of reducing the space requirements of the chairs of the type
described above. In these chairs, the seat and backrest do not move
relative to the rocker cams when the footrest is extended to place
the chair in TV position. While these chairs allowed T-cushion
styling and reduced the space requirements of the chair, they
created a forward-lurching problem because the seat did not move
relative to the cams to compensate for lurching when the footrest
was extended. In a more recent rocker-recliner of my invention
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,780, issued Mar. 16, 1982, a
"wall-avoiding" mechanism is provided by a seat which moves
forwardly relative to the rocker-cam linkage in going to TV
position. However, this enhances the tendency of the chair to lurch
forwardly when moving to TV position.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel
rocker-recliner chair that reduces the space requirements for the
chair while at the same time avoiding the tendency of the chair to
lurch forward when the footrest is extended. Including herein is
the provision of such a rocker-recliner chair that may also be
designed to accommodate T-cushion styling if desired.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and
improved linkage system for a rocker-recliner chair.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and
improved rocker-recliner chair.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a
rocker-recliner chair that may be moved to its various reclining
positions through the weight of the occupant of the chair.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such
a recliner chair that will achieve the above objects and yet may be
commercially manufactured to be competitive with existing
rocker-recliner chairs.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In summary, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a
base, a rocker cam assembly mounted on the base, and a unified seat
and armrest structure mounted on the rocker cam assembly to be
rotatable downwardly relative to the rocker cam assembly about a
fixed axis, preferably at the forward end of the seat, in order to
place the chair in TV position with the footrest extended. A novel
linkage mounts the rear end of the seat to the rocker cam assembly
such that the weight of the chair occupant tends to move the chair
to TV position. However, a release mechanism, controlled by a
manual handle on one side of the chair, prevents the seat from
moving relative to the rocker cam to TV position when the chair is
in the generally normal upright position (closed position) for
rocking. Once the release mechanism is opened by means of the
handle, the chair will automatically move to TV position to extend
the footrest while the rear end of the seat rotates downwardly
towards the rocker cam assembly about its aforementioned pivotal
connection to the latter. This motion of the seat is transmitted to
the footrest linkage by means of a linkage to extend the
footrest.
When moved into the TV position, a novel "rock-blocking" mechanism
becomes effective to prevent forward-rearward rocking of the
chair.
The backrest is pivotally mounted to the seat and is pivotally
connected to the rocker cam assembly so that it is prevented from
moving relative to the seat and the rocker cam assembly when the
chair is in the closed or normal, generally upright position.
However, once the chair is moved to TV position, the backrest is
freed, and the chair may be placed into advanced reclining
positions by exerting pressure on the backrest which causes the
seat to rotate upwardly about its aforementioned pivot to the
rocker cam assembly and this motion is transmitted to the
rock-blocking mechanism to raise the front end of the rocker-cam
assembly causing the latter to rock rearwardly on the base. The
chair may be returned to TV position by relieving pressure on the
backrest. Thereafter, the chair may be returned from TV to closed
position by exerting downward leg pressure on the footrest to fold
the same into its retracted position. The release mechanism then
becomes effective to retain the chair in the closed position where
it may be used as a conventional rocker. If desired, an overcenter
spring biasing mechanism may be employed to yieldingly restrain the
release mechanism in its locking position.
DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following more detailed description taken in
conjunction with the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of one preferred embodiment of
the rocker-recliner chair of the present invention shown in the
closed or generally upright position and with the upholstery being
removed in order to show internal parts;
FIG. 2 is a fragmental, side-elevational view illustrating the
footrest mechanism and its associated actuating means when in the
closed position;
FIG. 3 is a view generally similar to FIG. 1 except that the chair
is shown in the TV position and with certain frame parts of the
chair removed;
FIG. 4 is a fragmental, side-elevational view of portions of the
chair and its associated linkage for blocking and restraining
rocking movement of the chair;
FIG. 5 is a view generally similar to FIG. 4 except showing the
parts when the chair has been rocked forwardly;
FIG. 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 4 except showing the
parts when the chair has been rocked rearwardly;
FIG. 7 is a view generally similar to FIG. 3 except that the chair
is shown as having been moved to the fully advanced or fully
reclined position; and
FIG. 8 is a view mainly corresponding to FIG. 2 except that it
shows the parts in the position when the chair has been moved to
the TV position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated one
preferred embodiment of a rocker-recliner chair embodying the
present invention. Referring first to FIG. 1, the chair includes a
base including a pair of side rails 50 extending in the
forward-rearward direction of the chair and joined by cross rails
52. The chair further includes a unitary seat and armrest frame,
the seat frame including side rails 53 interconnected by a front
cross rail 54 and a rear cross rail 55; and the armrest frame
including side rails 56 and vertical front and rear posts 57 and 58
respectively fixed to the seat frame to form a one piece structure
in effect. The chair further includes a backrest frame including
vertical side pieces interconnected by upper and lower cross pieces
60 and 61 respectively. At the front of the chair is a footrest
frame including a front piece 62 and side pieces 63 fixed to the
front piece 62. All of the frame elements described thus far may be
made from any suitable material such as wood as shown.
Additionally, the chair will include upholstery and cushions (not
shown); the seat cushion in the shown embodiment being a T-cushion
accommodated by the recessed positioning of the armrests.
Mounted on the base for rocking movement are a pair of rocker cams
64 joined by cross pieces 65. Rocker springs 66 are typically
interposed between the rocker cams 64 and the base 50 between
brackets 67 and 68 fixed to the latter elements respectively in
conventional fashion.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 7 together, the seat is mounted to the
rocker cams 64 by a linkage system on opposite sides of the chair,
each including an elongated seat rail 7 fixed to the side rail 53
of the seat and extending in the forward-rearward direction of the
chair. Seat link 7 includes a front portion 7A rigidly fixed
thereto at 7C. Pivotally connected to the front end of the latter
by pivot 7B is an elongated cam link 8 fixed to the cam 64 to
extend in the forward-rearward direction of the chair below the
seat link. At the rear of the chair, seat link 7 is pivotally
mounted on the cam link 8 by means of a backrest mounting link 17,
a bell crank link 19 and a short mounting link 18, the latter being
pivotally mounted at 70 to the rear end of cam link 8. Backrest
mounting link 17 is pivotally mounted at 71 to the rear end of seat
link 7 while bell crank link 19 is pivotally mounted at its bite by
pivot 72 to link 17, one end of bell crank link 19 is pivotally
connected at 73 to mounting link 18.
The backrest frame 59 is mounted to the seat by a backrest link 21
fixed to backrest frame 59 and pivotally connected at 74 to the
upper cranked portion of backrest mounting link 17. Additionally,
the backrest link 21 is mounted to seat link 7 by means of another
backrest mounting link 20 pivotally interconnected between the two
by pivots 75, 76 forwardly of the other mounting link 17.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the footrest 62 (see FIG. 1) is mounted to
the seat by a footrest linkage for movement between a closed
position wherein the footrest 62 extends vertically below the front
of the seat as shown in FIG. 1 and an open position wherein the
footrest 62 is projected forwardly of the seat and lies in a
generally horizontal position as best illustrated by the footrest
bracket 77 as seen in FIG. 3 which bracket is fixed to the footrest
62 as shown in FIG. 1. The footrest linkage includes a front
footrest mounting link 78 pivotally mounted at pivot 79 to the
forward end of seat link 7; and a rear footrest mounting link 10
pivotally mounted to seat link 7A by pivot 80 (see FIG. 1).
Referring to FIG. 7, front footrest mounting link 78 is pivotally
connected at its intermediate portion to a link 6 which has its
rear end pivotally connected to rear footrest mounting link 10.
Generally parallel to link 78 is a link 4 which is pivotally
connected to link 6 and a link 3 whose rear end is pivotally
connected to link 78. Generally parallel to link 3 is a link 2
which has its rear end pivotally connected to link 4. Links 2 and 3
are pivotally connected to footrest bracket 77. The footrest
linkage per se is thus a conventional lazy-tong type linkage which
needs no further elaboration except to note that is extended
position is shown in FIG. 7 while its retracted position is best
shown in FIG. 2.
In the preferred embodiment of the chair shown in the drawings, the
seat is actuated from the closed position of FIG. 1 to TV position
shown in FIG. 3 through the weight of the chair occupant. When the
chair is in closed position (FIG. 1) the weight of the chair
occupant exerts downward forces on the bell crank link 19 through
the backrest mounting link 17 at the rear of the seat linkage.
However, a draw bar link 16 pivotally connected at its rear end to
one of the arms of the bell crank link 19, prevents any movement of
the latter and in turn any movement of the seat relative to the cam
link 8. Draw bar link 16 is elongated, extending in the
forward-rearward direction of the chair and is pivotally connected
at its forward end by pivot 82 to the rear footrest mounting link
10, see FIGS. 1 and 7. When the chair is in the closed position
with the footrest fully retracted as shown in FIG. 1, the rear
footrest mounting link 10 retains the draw bar 16 against movement
by the weight of the chair occupant acting through bell crank link
19 as described above. The rear footrest mounting link 10 in turn
is retained in its retracted position by means of a release
mechanism in the form of links 9 and 22 shown in FIG. 2. Link 9 is
pivotally connected at its forward position 86 and 87 to footrest
links 10 and 6 and at its rear end 88 to one end of link 22. The
opposite end of link 22 is rigidly fixed to a shaft 23 mounted in
the seat link 7 (see FIGS. 1, 3 or 7). Rigidly fixed to shaft 23 is
a handle 85. In the closed position of the chair and footrest, the
pivots 87 and 88 are on center with the shaft 23 and are retained
in this position by a tension spring 90. Thus, the footrest
mounting link 10 together with the remainder of the footrest
linkage are retained in closed position. Additionally, this also
has the effect of preventing movement of the draw bar 16 which is
under the gravity force of the occupant's weight acting through
links 17 and 19 at the rear of the chair as described above. The
seat is thus retained against movement relative to the cam link 8
and, of course, the rocker cam 64 which is mounted to the
latter.
In order to place the chair in the TV position shown in FIG. 3 from
the closed position shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to release the
draw bar 16 from the holding effect of footrest mounting link 10
and the release mechanism, links 9 and 22. This is easily and
effortlessly accomplished by the chair occupant grasping handle 85
and rotating it counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 to move the
pivots 87 and 88 off center with respect to the shaft 23 and
against the bias of springs 90. Once this occurs, draw bar 16 will
be released and the weight of the chair occupant acting through
links 17, 19 and 16 will cause the seat link 7 to rotate downwardly
(clockwise in FIG. 1) about pivot 7B and to cam link 8 (at the
front of the chair) while the crank link 19 moves downwardly
(pivoting relative to link 18) with the rear of the seat link 7.
During the above described movement, the draw bar 16, under the
force of gravity from the occupant's weight acting through bell
crank link 19, will rotate the rear footrest mounting link 10
(clockwise in FIG. 1 about its pivot 80 to seat link 7A) to thus
unfold the footrest linkage into its extended position of FIG. 3.
This position is limited and positively determined by a stop pin 89
fixed on the lower end of seat link 7A which pin 89 engages the
lower edge of footrest mounting link 10 as best seen in FIG. 7.
FIG. 8 shows the position of handle 85, release links 9 and 22 and
biasing spring 90 when the chair has been moved to the TV position
of FIG. 3. Note that spring 90 which is secured at its opposite
ends to seat link 7 and release link 9, has moved past center from
its position of FIG. 2, and now exerts a biasing force tending to
maintain the footrest in the extended position. In order to return
the chair and footrest to the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 2 from
the TV position of FIG. 3, the chair occupant need only exert
downward pressure with his legs on the footrest 62 to fold it
closed. During the latter closing movement of the footrest linkage,
once the spring 90 moves past its center (its point of fixation to
seat link 7) it will snap the release links into their closed,
restraining position of FIG. 2 to thus in effect lock the linkage
system into the closed position of FIG. 1. This closed position of
release links 9 and 22 is positively determined by a stop 22A fixed
to release link 22 to engage the edge of release link 9 as shown on
FIG. 2.
Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, when the chair is in the closed
position of FIG. 1, the rocker cam 64 will be free to rock
forwardly and rearwardly on base 50 during which time the seat
remains fixed against movement relative to the rocker cam 64.
When the chair is moved to the TV position, it is necessary to
prevent forward-rearward rocking of the chair to stabilize the
chair in view of the fact that the footrest has been extended. In
order to prevent forward-rearward rocking of the chair when in the
TV and any advanced reclining positions beyond TV position, the
chair is provided with a "rock-block" mechanism which in the
preferred embodiment includes a "blocking pin" link 14 in the form
of a bell crank having one arm pivoted at 82 to the forward end of
the draw bar link 16. Note that pivot 82 also interconnects the
upper end of rear footrest mounting link 10 as described above.
Referring to FIG. 4, the opposite arm of blocking in link 14 has on
its lower end, a blocking pin 100 which is adapted to enter into a
keeper slot 101 to prevent forward-rearward rocking of the chair
when it is moved into TV position, see FIG. 3. Keeper slot 101 is
formed in a keeper link 11 which is pivotally mounted by pivot 103
to cam link 8 as best shown in FIG. 6. Keeper link 11 is actuated
into a position to receive blocking pin 100 (when the chair is
moved to TV position) by means of a "blocker-actuator" link 15
pivotally connected at its lower end by pivot 105 to the keeper
link, see FIG. 5. The upper end of blocker-actuator link 15 is
pivoted by pivot 104 to the bite of the blocking pin link 14 as
best shown in FIG. 5. The forward end of keeper link 11 is
pivotally connected to a constraining link 12 which is pivotally
mounted to the base 50 of the chair by means of a bracket 13 fixed
to the base 50 and pivotally connected to constraining link 12.
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the position of the rock-blocking
mechanism when the linkage system and the chair are in the closed
position of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows the rock-blocking mechanism in the
position when the chair has been rocked forwardly and FIG. 6
illustrates the mechanism when the chair has been rocked
rearwardly. FIG. 4 illustrates the mechanism when the chair is in a
position intermediate those of FIGS. 5 and 6. In the aforementioned
closed positions of the chair, the seat 7 and cams 8, 64 rock as a
unit on the base 50, it being remembered that the seat linkage is
retained in closed position against movement relative to the cam
link 8 and cams 64 by means of the release mechanism 9, 22.
Therefore, as the chair rocks forward and rearward, the rock
blocking mechanism including links 11, 14 and 15 will swing back
and forth by virtue of the connection of link 15 to the draw bar
link 16 which rocks as a unit with the seat and cam structures.
However, note that locking pin 100 does not enter slot 100 of
keeper link 11 as long as the chair is in the closed position of
FIG. 1. Note also that the forward-rearward rocking movement
illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is constrained or limited by virtue
of the constraining link 12 which is connected to keeper link 11 as
described above.
When the chair is moved from closed position of FIG. 1 to TV
position of FIG. 3 by means of handle 85 which opens the release
links 9 and 22 as described above, the seat link 7 is inclined by
rotating downwardly about pivot 7B to cam link 8, also as described
above. This movement induces movement in the draw bar link 16 which
in turn actuates links 14, 15 and 11 causing the locking pin 100 to
enter the slot 101 of keeper link 11 to prevent rock movement of
the cams 64 on the base, see FIG. 3.
In order to place the chair into advanced reclining position beyond
the TV position shown in FIG. 3, the chair occupant merely exerts
back pressure on the backrest 59 causing rear backrest mounting
link 17 to pivot (counterclockwise in FIG. 7) downwardly about
pivot 71 which causes the seat link 7 to rotate upwardly
(counterclockwise in FIG. 7) about its pivotal connection 7B to cam
link 8 whereby the seat rotates away (upwardly) from the cam link 8
into an advanced reclining position; the fully advanced or fully
reclined position being shown in FIG. 7. It should be noted that
when the chair moved into the TV position, the seat rotated
downwardly (clockwise) about pivot 7B towards the cam link 8
whereas in moving to advanced reclining position, the seat rotated
upwardly (counterclockwise) about pivot 7B away from the cam link
8. This unique action makes a highly compact linkage structure
possible as it avoids translational movement between the seat and
rocker cams while at the same time providing the various desired
reclining positions of the chair.
Referring to FIG. 7, it will be noted that when the chair is placed
into advanced reclining position, the rocker cams 64 are rocked
rearwardly on base 50 to thereby permit the desired reclining
position to be achieved. Referring to FIG. 7, this action is
achieved through the counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 7)
rotation of keeper link 11 about its pivotal mounting 103 to the
cam link 8 which causes the cams 64 to rock rearwardly inasmuch as
the forward end of keeper link 11 is constrained by constraining
link 12. The aforementioned rotation of keeper link 11 is achieved
through the draw bar link 16 which actuates link 14, which by
virtue of the receipt of pin 100 in the slot of keeper link 11,
becomes fixed relative to link 15 so that links 14 and 15 are one
link in effect. This enables the force imparted to link 14 by draw
bar link 16 to be transferred to the keeper link 11 through link 15
to thus allow keeper link to be actuated to raise the front end of
the cam link 8 and its cam 64 resulting in rearward rocking of the
cam 64. The chair is thus stabilized and balanced while in any
advanced reclining position. In order to return to TV position from
any advanced reclining position, the occupant need only remove
pressure from the backrest causing a redistribution of his weight.
A stop 108 may be provided on backrest mounting link 17 to engage
the edge of the backrest link 21 when TV position is reached. The
chair may then be returned to closed position by retracting the
footrest with the legs as described above.
Although only the linkage system on one side of the chair has been
shown and described above, it will be understood that another
linkage system which is a mirror image of that described, will be
provided on the other side of the chair.
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