Reclining chair
AssigneesHenry Dreyfuss Associates, Golden Associates
InventorsJames M. Ryan, Sanford S. Golden, Larry Sliker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chair, infinitely or incrementally adjustable between an upright seating mode and a full-recline mode, includes a concave seating portion continuous with a convex doubly-extensible leg support portion which combine to form an ergonomicly preferred seating attitude when the chair is in a full recline mode. A synchronous belt drive system extends and retracts the legrest and footrest portions and a passive/active height adjust mechanism is provided. The legrest and footrest portions are retained in a tuck position beneath the seating area of the chair when the chair is in an upright mode. A double extension leg support mechanism is provided for extending the legrest and footrest portions relative to the degree of recline.
Claims4
A reclining chair, comprising:
- a seat shell having a seating portion and a back portion;
- seat support means for supporting said seat shell at an elevation, said seat support means having a diagonal component extending upwards beneath said seat shell towards a forward edge of said seat shell and forming an acute angle therewith;
- first crank means, secured at an upper end about a first point on the seating portion of said seat shell and pivotally secured at a lower end to a first pivot point located on said diagonal component;
- said seat shell being disposable in degrees of recline between an upright orientation and a full recline orientation relative to said seat support means, said crank means pivoting about said first pivot point in degrees relative to the degree of recline of said seat shell;
- a leg support portion rotatably extendable in degrees about the forward edge of said seat shell, wherein said leg support portion includes a legrest and a footrest, said footrest being rotatably extendable in degrees about a forward edge of said legrest, a second pivot point being provided substantially about a rearward edge of said leg support portion and in proximity to the forward edge of said seat shell, said leg support portion pivoting about said second pivot point;
- first belt drive means including a first endless belt revolving about said lower end of said first crank means and said second pivot point, drivingly pivoting said leg support portion in degrees about said second pivot point in response to the pivoting of said crank means and relative to the degree of pivot of said crank means and thereby rotatably extending said leg support portion about the forward edge of said seat shell, said first crank means driving said first endless belt;
- second belt drive means including a second endless belt revolving between a point located substantially about the rearward edge of said legrest and a third pivot point provided substantially about a rearward edge of said footrest for drivingly pivoting said footrest in degrees about said third pivot point and thereby rotatably extending said footrest about said forward edge of said legrest;
- and
- belt drive engagement means cooperating with said first and second belt drive means for engaging said second endless belt relative to the degree of pivot of said first crank means and the resultant revolving of said first endless belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.