Chair with adjustable foot support

Abstract

A chair includes a base and a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position. A foot support is disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure. The foot support is rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base. A control mechanism is operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seat. The control mechanism includes a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure. The control handle rotates with the seating structure when the seating structure is rotated and moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a chair including a first embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 1A is a front view of the chair of FIG. 1

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the components of a first embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 of the control assembly of a first embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of the foot support of a first embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 6A is a bottom cross-sectional view of a portion of the foot support of a first embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 6B is a side sectional view of the foot support along line 6B-6B of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6C is a bottom view of a portion of the foot support of a first embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of chair including a first embodiment of a foot support assembly in a first position.

FIG. 7A is a sectional view of chair including a first embodiment of a foot support assembly in a second position.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the gear components of a second embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 10A is a sectional view along line 10A-10A of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the gear components of a second embodiment of a foot support assembly.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the gear housing of a second embodiment of a foot support assembly.

Claims

1. A chair comprising: a base;a seating structure rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position;a foot support disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure and rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base; anda control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical distance between the foot support and the seat, the control mechanism comprising a control handle operably coupled to the seating structure such that the control handle rotates with the seating structure when the seating structure is rotated and moves vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is vertically moved between the first position and the second position.

2. The chair of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a support column with an upper portion coupled to the seating structure and rotationally coupled to the foot support, wherein the foot support and the upper portion of the support column move vertically with the seating structure when the seating structure is moved between the first position and the second position.

3. The chair of claim 1 wherein the seating structure is a seat.

4. The chair of claim 2 wherein the support column comprises a vertically extendable spring.

5. The chair of claim 1 further comprising a lead screw operably coupling the foot support to the control mechanism.

6. The chair of claim 5 wherein the control mechanism comprises: a control shaft comprising a first and second end, the first end comprising the control handle and the second end operably coupled to a first gear wheel; anda second gear wheel operably coupling the first gear wheel to the lead screw, such that rotation of the control shaft causes vertical movement of the foot support.

7. The chair of claim 2 further comprising a support tube vertically disposed over at least a portion of the support column.

8. The chair of claim 7 wherein the foot support comprises a center aperture, the center aperture disposed around the support tube, and the foot support is adapted to slide up and down the support tube.

9. The chair of claim 1 further comprising: a housing disposed around at least a portion of the control mechanism; anda top cap non-rotatably coupled to the foot support, wherein the housing rotates with respect to the top cap when the seating structure is rotated.

10. The chair of claim 9 wherein the housing comprises a pin operably coupled to the seating structure to allow the housing to rotate with respect to the top cap when the seating structure is rotated.

11. The chair of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member, the biasing member operably coupled to the seating structure and to the base to bias the seating structure toward a forward position with respect to the base.

12. The chair of claim 11 wherein the top cap comprises a first surface, further comprising a second surface and a biasing member operably coupled to the second surface, the second surface adapted to slide along the first surface, the biasing member biasing the seating structure toward a forward position.

13. The chair of claim 12 wherein the first and second surfaces are ramped and the first surface faces upward and the second surface faces downward.

14. The chair of claim 13 further comprising an engaging member comprising the second surface, the engaging member coupled to the biasing member and vertically moveable with respect to the housing.

15. The chair of claim 2 further comprising: a support tube vertically disposed over at least a portion of the support column, the support tube comprising a top portion,a housing disposed around at least a portion of the control mechanism; anda top cap non-rotatably coupled to the foot support and disposed at the top portion of the support tube and affixed thereto,wherein the housing rotates with respect to the top cap when the seating structure is rotated.

16. The chair of claim 15 further comprising a top insert disposed at least in part between the support tube and the spring, the top insert affixed to the top cap.

17. The chair of claim 4 further comprising: a support tube vertically disposed over at least a portion of the spring, the support tube comprising a bottom portion;a bottom cap disposed at the bottom portion of the support tube and connected thereto; anda lead screw operably coupling the foot support to the control mechanism, wherein the lead screw comprises a bottom end rotatably connected to the bottom cap.

18. The chair of claim 17 further comprising a bottom insert disposed at least in part between the support tube and the spring and connected to the bottom cap.

19. A chair comprising: a base;a seat rotatably coupled to the base and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position, the seat comprising a top surface with a nadir and a side edge, the side edge defining a vertical plane and the nadir defining a horizontal plane;a foot support disposed a vertical distance from the seating structure and rotatably coupled to the seating structure and non-rotatably coupled to the base; anda control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support for adjusting the vertical position of the foot support, the control mechanism comprising a control handle with a distal end, wherein the distal end of the control handle is disposed at a horizontal location within 3 inches of the vertical plane defined by the side edge of the seat and a vertical location within 18 inches of the horizontal plane defined by the nadir of the top surface of the seat.

20. The chair of claim 19 wherein the distal end of the control handle is disposed at a horizontal location within 2 inches of the vertical plane defined by the side edge of the seat and a vertical location within 15 inches of the horizontal plane defined by the nadir of the top surface of the seat

21. The chair of claim 19 wherein the control handle rotates with the seat when the seat is rotated and moves vertically with the seat when the seat is vertically adjusted.

22. The chair of claim 19 further comprising a lead screw operably coupling the foot support to the control mechanism.

23. The chair of claim 22 wherein the control mechanism comprises: a control shaft comprising a first and second end, the first end comprising the control handle and the second end operably coupled to a first gear wheel; anda second gear wheel operably coupling the first gear wheel to the lead screw, such that rotation of the control shaft causes vertical movement of the foot support.

24. The chair of claim 19 further comprising: a housing disposed around at least a portion of the control mechanism; anda top cap non-rotatably coupled to the foot support, wherein the housing rotates with respect to the top cap when the seat is rotated.

25. The chair of claim 24 wherein the housing comprises a pin operably coupled to the seat to allow the housing to rotate with respect to the top cap when the seat is rotated.

26. A method of adjusting a foot support comprising: providing a chair comprising: a base comprising a support column;a seat supported by the support column and vertically moveable between at least a first position and a second position;the foot support, wherein the foot support is disposed a vertical distance from the seat and rotatably coupled to the seat and non-rotatably coupled to the base; anda control mechanism operably coupled to the foot support;sitting on the seat; andadjusting the control mechanism while sitting on the seat to change the vertical distance between the seat and the foot support without vertically moving the seat.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the control mechanism comprises a control handle, further comprising rotating the seat, such that the control handle rotates with the seat and the foot support does not rotate with the seat.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising moving the seat between the first position and the second position, wherein the foot support moves vertically with the seat as the seat moved between the first position and the second position.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the control mechanism comprises a control handle, wherein adjusting the control mechanism comprises rotating the control handle.