Patent Application
20070278841
The present invention relates generally to a backpost unit of a wooden dining chair having a reclining mechanism that allows reclining movements to the backpost unit. The backpost unit can be self assembled or DIY ready, as a part of a DIY wooden dining chair. The backpost unit can recline at a range of angles and automatically retract to its original position when the force is removed.
This invention relates to backpost unit of a wooden dining chair, which has a reclining mechanism that provides extra comfort for user. The mechanism enables user to recline at certain range of angle if user press his/her back against the backpost of the wooden dining chair.
There are a variety of prior chairs that include mechanisms that permit a chair back to recline. For example, Ambasz, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,084,850; 4,157,203; 4,333,683; and 5,108,149, each disclose chairs where a portion of the chair back pivots in response to a force from a person sitting on the chair. Each of the Ambasz chairs is fabricated from non-wooden materials.
Staples, U.S. Pat. No. 44,987, and Shults, U.S. Pat. No. 349,907, each discuss reclining chairs that use a spring to control pivoting of an upper portion of the chair back.
In the Staples chair, the spring is placed behind the top and bottom portions of the chair back. Shults teaches placing the top and bottom portions of the chair back beside each other.
Conventional wooden dining chair is designed to have an upright position or with a small angled rigid backpost, such design enables the user to be at the best sitting posture or best natural position for eating, however, eating is just one of the activities that can happen at dining table. In fact, most of the times we spend at dining table are involve in non-eating activities like drinking, discussion, meeting, playing card games and family bonding.
Therefore, the limitation of the upright rigid design of backpost on a wooden dining chair with the original intention to support optimum upright posture will not provide comfort for activities other than eating. Therefore, it is the intention of this invention to address the above-mentioned limitation of a dining chair.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a backpost with a simple reclining mechanism installed inside a wooden dining chair that enables users to adjust themselves to their desirable reclining position.
It is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism to enable the backpost of a wooden dining chair to recline and automatically retracts to it's original position once the reclining force is removed.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a backpost unit for a wooden dining chair that consists of simple interlocking mechanism with minimum components and requires minimum maintenance, and providing a solid and reliable reclining mechanism.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon inspection of the detailed description, drawings and appended claims.
The object of the invention is to provide a backpost unit for use in wooden dining chair of the type having a stationary frame section within which the backpost unit is secured.
In one embodiment, the backpost unit is made of one piece of same material that is cut a top backpost portion and a bottom backpost portion. Intermediate the top backpost portion and the bottom backpost portion is a rear facing gap is provided to accommodate a reclining mechanism.
The reclining mechanism is installed at contact area between the top backpost portion and the bottom backpost portion. A hinge type linkage means is embedded inside the backpost extended between the top backpost portion and the bottom backpost portion and to permit the top backpost portion to recline relative to the bottom backpost portion.
In another embodiment, the reclining mechanism could be hidden or embedded inside the backpost. A resilient means is installed within the rear facing gap and interposed between the bottom surface of the top backpost portion and the top surface of the bottom backpost portion to enable the top backpost portion to recline according to pressure exerted by a user and to revert to its original position upon removal of the pressure.
It is another object of the invention to provide a casing to cover up the rear facing gap and conceal the resilient means installed inside. Advantageously, the reclining mechanism enables the users to relax their back in a range of angles while remain sitting at the dining table.
Forming the backpost unit 10 in this configuration provides a user with excellent support whether the user is in the upright dining position (
Because of the structure, the backpost unit 10 as well as the other components of the wooden dining chair 12 can be self assembled or DIY ready, as a part of a DIY wooden dining chair 12 and recline at a range of angles and automatically retract to its original when the force is removed. None of the prior reclining chair designs appreciate the benefits associated with the combination of the preceding elements.
The figures illustrate an embodiment whereby the backpost unit 10 is also acting as legs for supporting the wooden dining chair 12. The novel part of this invention is the reclining mechanism 14 is installed within the backpost unit 10 in a concealed manner and yet makes the wooden dining chair 12 looks like having a solid piece back post, as most clearly illustrated in
The reclining mechanism 14 generally includes a hinge type linkage means 16 and a resilient means 18. The hinge type linkage means 16 is embedded inside with minimum the backpost unit 10 and requires minimum maintenance, and providing a solid and reliable reclining mechanism.
An upper leaf 16a of the hinge type linkage means 16 is extended into the top backpost portion 10a and a lower leaf 16b of the hinge type linkage means 16 is extended into the bottom backpost portion 10b. A hinge pin 16c is provided intermediate the upper leaf 16a and the lower leaf 16b to pivotally attached the upper leaf 16a to the lower leaf 16b. This configuration thereby permits the top backpost portion 10a to recline relative to the bottom backpost portion 10b.
The backpost unit 10 thereby provides a substantially continuous backrest surface 28 on a front side thereof. The substantially continuous backrest surface 28 provides support for a person sitting on the wooden dining chair 12 while eliminating potential pinch points at the intersection of the top backpost portion 10a and the bottom backpost portion 10b, which could result in injury to the person sitting on the wooden dining chair 10. Mounting the hinge type linkage means 16 proximate the backrest surface 28 assists in maintaining the substantially continuous backrest surface 28 even when the force is applied to the top backpost portion 10a.
As most clearly illustrated in
A recess 32 may be provided in the lower surface of the top backpost portion 10a or the upper surface of the bottom backpost portion 10b to receive a portion of the resilient means 18. Forming the recess 32 enables the resilient means 18 to be formed with a greater size than if the resilient means 18 was merely placed between the lower surface of the top backpost portion 10a and the upper surface of the bottom backpost portion 10b.
Forming the resilient means 18 with a larger size enhances the ability of the backpost unit 10 to providing cushion while the top backpost portion 10a is reclined with respect to the bottom backpost portion 10b. This configuration thereby enhances the user's comfort associated with reclining the backpost unit 10.
Forming the backpost unit 10 with the integrated reclining mechanism 14 also enhances the durability of the wooden dining chair 12 because the user is able to recline the top backpost portion 10a with respect to the bottom backpost portion 10b and thereby increase the comfort of the wooden dining chair 12 without the need to tilt the entire wooden dining chair backwards so that only the back legs contact the ground surface. Especially with wooden dining chairs, tilting the wooden dining chairs onto the back legs often leads to premature breakage of the wooden dining chairs.
It is another object of the present to provide a casing 34 to cover up the rear facing gap 30 and conceal the resilient means 18 installed inside and further make the backpost unit 10 looks like a single solid piece of wooden backpost for a dining chair. In addition to enhancing the appearance of the backpost unit 10, the casing 34 also prevents users from being pinched between the top backpost portion 10a and the bottom backpost portion 10b during reclining.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the backpost unit 10 for the wooden dining chair 12 that consists of simple interlocking mechanism with minimum components and requires minimum maintenance, and providing a solid and reliable reclining mechanism 14. The wooden dining chair 12 using the interlocking mechanism 14 as described in this invention exhibits a high degree of strength and stability.
To facilitate readily attaching the hinge type linkage means 16 to the top backpost portion 10a and the bottom backpost portion 10b, a pair of lock pins 40 is provided, as illustrated in
The hinge type linkage means 16 preferable has a cylindrical configuration, as most clearly illustrated in
In the preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention have now been described in detail. It is to be noted, however, that this description of these specific embodiments is merely illustrative of the principles underlying the inventive concept.
It is therefore contemplated that various modifications of the disclosed embodiments will, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, be apparent to persons skilled in the art. For instance, it is obvious the one skilled in the art of the present invention that alternate embodiments of the present dining chair can include different shape and means of reclining mechanism.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PI 20020178 | Jan 2002 | MY | national |
| PCT/SG02/00101 | May 2002 | SG | national |
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/500,467, filed Jul. 15, 2004, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10500467 | Jul 2004 | US |
| Child | 11619542 | Jan 2007 | US |
