US2687766A - Convertible chair - Google Patents

Description

J. K. PRASSAS CONVERTIBLE CHAIR Aug. 31, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1949 .[zzVEnLw Jolzzz EPraasas g- 31, 1954 J. K. PRASSAS 2,687,766

CONVERTIBLE cmun Filed Jan. 27, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet a In Val-alar- Jolzn it. Prassaa Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED? {STATES hATENT OFFICE 1 2,687,766 CONVERTIBLE CHAIR John KrPrassas, Chicago, Ill. Application January 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,023

a l The present inventionrelates to'aconvertible chairand more particularly to al chair which may readily be converted to a reclinin chair or a bed upon a mere shifting ofthe weight of a person sitting in the chair;

Chairs which are convertible into a reclining position or into a bed are well known in the art and many variousmechanical movements and other expedients have been proposed for use for causing relative movements of the various parts of the chair to convert the samefinto a reclining chair or a bed upon a mere shifting of the weight or a person seated in the chair.

The chair is provided withmeans for defining at least three distinct and separate relatively adjusted positions of the chair back with respect to the chair seat. Inthe first of the adjusted positions the chair back extends substantially normal to the chair seat, so that a person sitting in the chair would be in what is hereinafter termed an upright position. In the second relatively adjusted position the back and the seat define an obtuse angle, with the person seated r in thechair occupying a reclining position.

During movement of thechair back to this reclinting position a mechanical linkage is actuated to move a leg and foot support which is pivotally connected to the chair seat opposite the chair back, so that the legs of the sitter may be extended into a comfortable position. The thirdchair position is one in which the chair seat, chair back, and leg and foot support extend in substantially a horizontal plane so that a person seated thereon may recline at full length, as in abed. It should be appreciated that more than one reclining posil tion may be provided, since the angle between the chair back and seat maybe varied to suit "the desires of a person seated therein.

fI'he adjustment of the chair to the various reclining positions and to thebed position may be carried out by the mere shiftin of Weight of a person seated in the chair, although preferably movement of the chair. p For example, to move the chair from an upright position to a recliningposition it is only ,nec-

a catch assembly is provided to prevent undue -essary that a person seated in the chair exert extra pressure backwards'against the chairback.

11 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This pressure against the back actuates the chair mechanism to cause the seat to slide forwardly and upwardly and the back downwardly and backwardly. Forward movement of the chair seat aetuates the leg and foot rest linkage to pivot the foot and leg rest into position in alignment with the chair seat. Further backward pressure against the chair back causes the seat mechanism to move forwardly to a greater extent with the chair back being lowered until, in the final, or bed position, the chair back, the chair seat and the foot and leg rest are in a. single horizontal plane. The various reclining and bed positions may be suitably defined by an overbalanced catch 7 mechanism to prevent the accidental shifting of the chair.

The chair actuating linkage and construction is so arranged that upon the removal of pressure or weight from the chair back, the chair is returned to its initial upright position automatically, so that it is unnecessary to return the chair manually to its normal position.

The simple, readily operable chair reclining mechanism is entirely carried by a pair of stationary side chair frames, with the chair seat and back being suspended therebetween. Further, the mechanism for shifting the position of the back and the chair seat employs no springs Or other complicated mechanisms, thus greatly reducing the cost of the device andalso maintenance expense. Also, a sliding back supporting structure is provided so that there may be no uncomfortable relative movement between the sitters back and the back of the chair during shifting of the chair position.

Fromthe foregoing general description of the Chairi t he advantages residing in my improved construction will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art, both in the inexpensive, easily manufactured construction of the chair and the ease of operation, together with the automatic return of the chair to an upright position upon the removal of pressure from the chair back.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a convertible chair of simple and economical construction, the chair being capable of movement into a plurality of relatively adjusted positions upon a person in the chair merely shifting his weight.

a plurality of adjustable parts connectedby irfe'ans of mechanical linkages to" form a chair 3 seat. a chair back and a foot and leg rest capable of relative movement to an upright, a reclining and a bed position upon a mere shifting of pressure applied to one or more of the component parts of the chair, with the chair being automatically returned to its initial position in the absence of such pressure.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved convertible chair construction having a seat, a back and a foot and leg rest mechanically linked together for relative movement, the seat being moved upwardly and forwardly upon the exertion of pressure upon the back, the seat and back being moved to relatively adjusted position upon such movement of the seat and the foot andv leg rest being moved into alignment with'the seat upon the relative movement of the back and seat.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved convertible chair construction including a seat, a back and a foot and leg rest linked together for coincidental movement between a pair of spaced chair sides, the entire weight of the chair being carried by the chair sides with the back, seat and leg rest being capable of relative 'movement into a plurality of adjusted positions therebetween upon the shifting of weight of a person seated in the chair.

Other and further important objects of this invention. will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the frame of a chair of the present invention, the operating parts of the chair being positioned in upright position;

- Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating in full. outline the position of the operating parts of the chair in reclining position, and in dotted outline the position of the chair in the bed position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in the plane III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the plane IV--IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentaryrview of the foot and leg rest showingmovement of the rest .to its extended position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the position of the foot and leg rest during its folding, movement from its extended position; and

Figure '7 is a broken, fragmentary view of a chair back frame member.

As shown on thedrawings:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral II] refers generally to a chair of the present invention comprising a pair of spaced parallel upright side frame members II, a pair of longitudinally disposed parallel seat side frames I2 supported between upright side frames II, and a pair of parallel back frame members I3 hingedly connected to the seat frame members I2 and to the side frame members I I.

It will be readily understood, although only one of eachof the members II, I2 and I3 areshown in Figure 1, that two such members are provided, together with the requisite cross bracing members to maintain the relative position of the frame members when assembled. The cross bracing members may be placed in such position that they do not interfere with the operation of the chair, as, for example, the members I4 shown in bers Figure 1. It is also understood that the mechanism of the chair is such that the chair may be padded or upholstered by conventional means to the general outline indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The seat upholstery and seat springs are carried by the seat I2, as will be evident to those skilled in the art, while the side frames II provide padded chair arms. 7

Each of the side frames II, as illustrated in Figure 1, is formed of a pair of parallel upright side bracingmembers I5, an upper longitudinally extending bracing member I6 joining the mem- I5, an intermediate bracing member I'I parallel to member I6 and secured to member I5, and a lower bracing member I8 also connecting the members I5. An inclined guideway or slot is provided by parallel inclined guide members I9 extending between members I? and .18, a second inclined member being provided in closely spaced relation to one of the members I9 to provide an additional second parallel guiding surface for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

The seat side frames I2 are guided for movement between the sideframes l I by means of the inclined members I9 and 20. The seat side frame tacts one of the inclined members I9 in rolling engagement therewith. As shown in Figure 1, either one or both of the rollers 23 maybe mount- ;ed between closely spaced members I9 and 20,

so that the roller is guided at diametrically opposed points throughout the entire length of that -member I9. Preferably, one of the members I9 is provided with a curved stop surface 25 to stop further movement of roller 23.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that seat I2 is journaled through rollers 23 for both vertical and horizontal movement relative to the side frame members II. This movement V may preferably be controlled by means of a catch mechanism illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the catch mechanism comprising a pair of overbalancedlever arms, including an arm 26 pivoted, as by a screw 21, to horizontal bracing members I8 of the side frame II, and a second lever arm 28 pivoted as at 29 to a depending flange 30 secured to upper horizontal frame member 2|."

'I' heilever arm 26 extends upwardly through a strap .3I carriedby arm 28 and loosely enclosing a portion of the arm 26. The arm 26 bears against the pin 32 extending between the strap 3| and the arm 28. The lever arms 26 and 28 are thus capable of relative movement upon movement of seat I2 relative to the side frames II. The upper surface of arm 26 is notched at a plurality of spaced points, as at 33, While the freely extending edge 34 of arm 28 is provided with an integral inturne'd flange 35 overlying arm 26 and adapted to engage the notch 33 upon relative movement of the arms 26 and 28. A button 28a. is provided on the upper end of arm 28,

, depression of this button 28a causing a lifting of ,fiange 35 from a notch 33 within which it might 68 secured to the member 2|.

pivoted through pin 69 to a link arm 10, the arm *be 'seated, to allow further; relative movement of seat [2 and side frames II.

As best shown in Figures land 6, of the drawings, the chairback construction comprises a pair ,of para-lleln'side frame supporting members 36 (only one of \whichis shown) ,hingedly connected to, the, upper, horizontal seat frame, members 2| by means of a hinge 31; The-member 36 carries an arm' 38 secured thereto, and extending, normal to the member 36, the arm L38being pivoted by a also serves to carry a sliding back member 43 5 supported in spaced relation to member 36 by a pair of rollers 44 and 45 journaled inside mounting flanges 46 carried by the member 43. Roller 44 contacts one surface of member 38 while roller 5 45 contacts a guiding rib 41 carried by the same surface of member36. Movement of member 43 uponrotation of rollers 44 and 45 is guided by a side flange 49carried by member 36 and by addiqtional flanges 49 secured to member 36 and extending over member 43. A spring 59 is carried by a flange 5! secured to the member 36 and a second flange 52 secured to member 43, so that the members 43 and 36 areurged to their respective relative positions, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, by the spring 50. i

A foot rest, generally indicated at 53 in Figures 1,, 2, Sand 6, is carried by the seat I2. As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the foot rest 53 includes an elongated member 54 having one end pivoted,

as by pin 55, to a flange 56 carried by upright seat member 22 opposite the point of attachment of the back l3 to the seat [2. The member 54 is provided with canupper supporting surface 5lsecu red thereto through flanges 58.

An extension member 59 is linked through the seat member 22 through a first link arm 60 pivoted about a pin 66a to themember 54, by a pin 6! linking one extremitybf arm 60 to the extension 59 and a second pin 62 linking the opposite extremity of arm 69 to a second link arm63 pivotally connected by a pin 64 to a flange 65 secured tot-he member 22 beneath flange 56. i The arm' 54 propris linked to a camming arm 66, pivotally connected to the lower seat side framemember 2| about pin 6! carried by flange Cam arm 66 is 76' being pivoted to member 54 as by pin ll.

Arm"l0is provided with an integrally formed flange 72 (Figure 6) overlying the adjacent end of cam arm 66. That end of cam arm 66 opposite pin 69 is formed into a dependent leg portion 13 having opposed camming surfaces 14 and 15. A pair of pins 16 and T! are carried by member 18 extending between side frameupright member and an adjacent portion of horizontally extending side frame supporting member l8.

- The operation of the convertible chair of the present invention will be apparent to those 1 skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Itwill readily be seen that the back l3,'hinged to theseat 12 by hinge 31, willserve as a lever 'to effect movement A of the A seat when pressure is exerted upon the back. Thus, .whenthe chair 6 is in normal position and pressure is exerted upon the back, such pressure will-be transmitted-by the back about its attachment to the side frame I28 engaging the notches 3301f arm 26 member l5; as afulcrum to cause movement of the seat 12. Movement of seat I2 is guidedby against the corresponding guide l9,. while "the rear rollers 23 .bear upwardly against ,the upper guide 26 to cause the seat to remain horizontal in its upward movement. The flang A ,of'arm 11 cause movement of the seat to, cease upon thi engagement, so that the chair remains in'a". reclined position. Further movement of the seatf may be caused, by pressing button 28a to pivot'member 28, lifting flange 35 from the notch 33 so that further depressionof the back may cause further movement of the seat. Also, it will readily be seen that upon the removal of weight. from the back, the seat moves downwardly and backwardly with the rollers engaging theirrespective guiding surfaces to return the chair to its normal upright position with the'stop surface 25 preventing further movement of the seat from this .upright position. In the downward movement of the seat, the rear rollers 23 bear against the lower guide I9 with the forward rollers 23 bearing against forward guide l9.

Movement of leg and foot rest 53 is accomplished upon movement of the chair seat 12. Any forward movement of the chair will bring camming surface 14 into contact withpin- 16 as shown in Figure 5, causing pivoting movement ofthe cam arm 66 around pin 67,'and extending arms 66 and 'lo into the position shown in Figure 2. In this position the off-center construction of arms 66 and "I0 causesthefiange 12 to contact the adjacent surface of cam arm 66 the overbalanced arms 66 and 19 being forced into tighter engagement upon the placing of weight upon supporting surface 51. At'the' same time, the leg and foot rest'is moved into'position; the extension 59 is likewisepivoted into position to extend beyond the supporting surface 51 through the linking of arms "69, 62 andl63 through the extension 59. The foot and leg rest 53; is" thus cammed into extended position upon the movement of the chair seat [2 andthe chair "backl3 into the first reclined position, and the camming portion 13 of'cam arm 66 is spaced from the pin '16 upon further forward and upward movement of the seatto the bed position. Upon-release of weight from the back, the chair seat and: back are returned to uprightposition as 'her'ein'before described, and the camming surface 15 "contacts pin 17 to cause reverse pivoting movement of the cam arm 66 away from'flange l2, andthe foot and legrest isreturned to its folded position as shown in Figure 1.

It will be seen that theside framemember ll need not be provided with separate guide members I9 and 20 as shown in the drawings. Side frame members ll mayeach be made from a singlepiec'e of material with inclined grooves providingguiding surfaces, for the rollers 23. Similarly,f the meinber18 maybe leliminated, with the pins 16 fan dl'lbeing carried byuside frame members I L Also, the seatside frames. l2

' may be formed from a single piece of, material, the rollers ,1 2 3 \qbeingi j'ournaled' therein and the lever arm 28 being. carried thereby.

It-vvill, of course, be understoodthat various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, notthe purpose to limit. the patent granted hereon 1 otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A convertible chair comprising a pair of spaced, upstanding chair side frames, a chair seat carried by said chair frames for relative movement therebetween, interengaging means carried by said chair side frames and said chair seat for guiding movement of said seat relative to said side frames, a chair back hingedly secured to said seat and to said side frames for movement relative thereto, said seat and said back being movable to, a plurality of relatively adjusted upright and reclining positions between said chairside frames, and a folding foot and leg rest pivotally connected to said seat and operatively linked to said side frames for extension into supporting position by movement of said seat and back into a reclining position.

2. Aconvertible chair comprising a pair of spaced, upright side frames, a chair seat journaled betweensaid side frames for movement vertically and horizontally relative thereto while remaining with its load-receiving surface horizontal, and a foldable foot and leg rest pivoted to said chair seat and operatively associated with said side frames for movement into extended position automatically by, upward and forward movement of said chair seat relative to said side frames.

3. A convertible chair comprising a pair of spaced, upright side frames, a seat journaled .between said side framesfor forward and backward movement relative thereto while remaining with its load-receiving surface horizontal, and an extensible foot and leg rest pivoted to said chair seat for extended movement upon movement of said chair seat relative to said side frames, said foot and leg rest comprising a first member linked to said chair seat for camming movement against said side framesinto extended position upon forward movement of the chair seat and a second member pivoted to the chair seat and to said first member for movement into I extended position beyond said first member upon movement of said chair seat.

. 4. A convertible chair comprising a pair of spaced, upright side frames, a chair seat journaled between said side frames for movement vertically and horizontally relative thereto while remaining with its load-receiving surface horizontal, a foot and leg rest pivoted to said chair seat and actuating cam means carried by said seat and by said foot and leg rest to move said rest into extended position by camming movement against said chair side frames upon upward and forward movement, of said chair seat relative to said side frames.

5. In a convertible chair having spaced, .upright side frames, a chair seat journaled between said side frames for movement relative thereto and a chair back hingedly connected to said side frames and to said seat for movement relative thereto, a foot and leg rest comprising a first oted to said link arm, whereby movement of said 1 chair seat relative to said side frames causes said '38 cam arm to move relative to said link arm to extend said member beyond said chairv seat and in alignment therewith to provide a foot and leg rest for a person seated in said chair.

6. In a convertible chair having a pair -of upright side frames, a seat journaled between said side frames for movement relative thereto and a back pivoted to said chair seat and to said side frames for movement relative thereto, a foot and leg extension pivoted to said chair seat comprising a first member pivoted to said chair seat, a link armv having one end pivoted to'said first member and its other end extending freely therebeyond, a cam arm pivoted intermediate its lengthto said chair seat and having one extremity provided with camming surfaces for contacting said chair frame and its other-extremity securedto the freely extending endof said link arm, and a second member slidably carried by said first member and pivotally linked to said chair seat whereby movement of said chair seat relative to said side frames causes camming movement between said cam arm and said side frames to move said link arm into position extending said first member beyond said seat with said second member pivotally linked to said seat being simultaneously moved to extend beyond said first member, said first and second members when extended lying in substantially the same plane as said seat and serving as a foot and leg rest for a person seated in said chair seat.

7. A convertible chair, comprising a pair of spaced, upright chair side frames held in parallel relation, inclined guideways provided on facing portions of said side frames, a chair seat, rollers rotatably carried by said seat for rolling engagement with said guideways to guide said chair for movement between said side frames, a chair back hinged to said seat and pivoted to said side frames for movement relative to said seat and said frames, a member carried by said back for bearing the weight of a person seated in said chair, said member being slidably movable relative to said back, resilient means urging said member into adjusted position relative to said back, an elongated member pivoted to said seat at a point opposite the chairbackand adapted to serve as a foot and leg rest, and camming means pivoted to said elongated member and. to said seat and movable into bearing engagement with said side frames upon movement of said chair seatrelative to said side frames to pivot said elongated member into extended position in alignment with seat, said chair seat and back being movable into a plurality of relatively adjusted positions by the shifting of weight of a person seated in the chair against said member carried by said back with said member being movable relative to said back to prevent uncomfortable movement of said persons back relative to the chair back.

8. A convertbile chair comprising a pair of spaced, upright chair side frames providing a pair, of inclined guiding surfaces, a chair seat, anti-friction bearing means carried by said chair seat and engageable with said inclined guiding surfaces for mounting said chair seat between said side frames for movement relative thereto, chair back hingedly secured to said side frames and to said seat for movement relative thereto, with movement of said back causing a corresponding movement of said chairseat intolrelalected reclining position, a back cushion memher anti-frictionally supported on said back for sliding movement relative thereto when said chair seat and side frame are moved relative to each other whereby said back may be adjusted without moving the back cushion relative to the body of the occupant of the chair.

9. A convertible chair comprising a pair of spaced fixedly mounted, upright side frames, a seat movably mounted between said side frames for movement relative thereto, a chair back hingedly secured to said seat and to said chair side frames for movement relative thereto into a plurality of adjusted positions upon the application of pressure to the chair back, and back cushion means slidably carried by said chair back for free sliding movement relative to said back when supporting the back of a user to prevent movement between said back cushion and the back of the user upon adjustment of the chair.

10. In a convertible chair having spaced, upright side frames, a seat journaled between said side frames for movement relative thereto, and a chair back pivotally connected to the side framesof the chair seat, means for preventing relative movement between the back of a person seated in the chair and the chair back upon movement of the back comprising a member carried by said chair back, roller means carried by said member for contacting, said chair back, and resilient means interposed between said chair back and said member resisting relative movement between said member and said chair back, whereby said member is free for movement relative to said back against the action of said resilient means to prevent relative movement between said back and the back of a per- 10 son seated in the chair and bearing against said member.

11. A convertible chair comprising a pair of fixed spaced, upstanding chair side frames, a chair seat adapted for relative movement between said chair side frames, means mounting said seat between said side frames for movement relative thereto, a back positioned between said chair side frames, first hinge means securing said back to said chair seat, second hinge means connecting said back to said chair side frames for movement relative thereto, a back cushion member sliciably mounted on said back and freely movable relative thereto, movement of said back upon pressure thereto by the occupant of the chair causing relative tilting movement between said chair seat and said back, said sliding back cushion allowing movement between the back and the back cushion member without causing relative movement between the back cushion member and the back of the occupant.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 9,449 Hammit Dec. 7, 1852 366,741 Sands July 19, 1887 657,363 Giess Feb. 5,1901 945,928 Fowler Jan. 11, 1910 1,751,599 Prassas Mar. 25, 1930 2,182,598 Owler Dec. 5, 1939 2,281,085 Bell Apr. 28, 1942 2,288,775 Bell July 7, 1942 2,374,848 Wohlk May 1, 1945 2,464,370 Bell Mar. 15, 1949

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