BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to seating devices, and more particular to a reclining chair with an improved structure.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A recliner is popular piece of furniture. It usually has a backrest that can be tilted back to provide relaxed seating. A more modem version often has a footrest that may be extended by means of a lever or automatically when the back is reclined. When a user sleeps on a conventional swivel recliner, the recliner may turn or vibrate when the user rolls over in his/her supine position, thereby waking up or surprising the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A novel recliner is disclosed herein which includes an electrical control member, a back frame, a seat frame, a H-shaped frame, a pair of arms, a curved arm, a U-shaped support, a footrest, a swivel joint, a seat fastener member, and pivot elements. The seat frame has a front beam connecting two front ends of the seat frame and a cross bream behind the front beam. The front beam has a pair of first ears extending perpendicularly forward, a pair of second ears extending perpendicularly backward and downward, and a third ear between the first ears extending forward and downward. An engaging coupler is extended downward from the cross beam, a piece is extended downward from the cross beam above the engaging coupler, a threaded tube is laterally extended from the piece, which in turn is joined to a knob. The footrest is positioned in front of the front beam whose two back ends are hinged to the first ears. The footrest includes a footrest frame having a cross beam, two parallel sliding rails respectively extended forward from two ends of the cross bream, and a guiding rail between the sliding rails. Two ends of the cross beam are respectively hinged to the first ears. The guiding rail has a front section joined to a trough of the collapsible arm. The pair of arms have front ends respectively hinged to middle sections of the sliding rails. The H-shaped frame has two back ends respectively hinged to the pair of second ears, and two front ends are respectively hinged to the back ends of the pair of arms, whose front ends are hinged to middle sections of the lateral edges of the footrest. An engaged coupler is extended downward from a central beam of the H-shaped frame. The curved arm has a back end hinged to the third ear, and a front end hinged to a back section of the guiding rail. The U-shaped support is positioned beneath the seat frame, and has two sides hinged to two lateral edges of the seat frame. A first coupler is extended upward from a front section of a bottom side of the U-shaped support, and the U-shaped support has a through hole. The back frame includes a backrest frame and a headrest frame whose lateral edges hinged to top ends of the backrest frame. Two lateral edges of the backrest frame are hinged to back ends of the seat frame, and a second coupler is extended downward from a bottom edge of the back frame. The electrical control member has a controller controlling electricity input of a power source to a first telescopic rod and a second telescopic rod. The first telescopic rod has a front end hinged to the first coupler and a back end hinged to the second coupler. The second telescopic rod has a front end hinged to the engaged coupler and a back end hinged to the engaging coupler. The swivel joint has an axle running through a tubular sleeve. A number of bearings are configured between the axle and the tubular sleeve. The axle runs upward beyond the tubular sleeve and fixedly into the through hole of the U-shaped support. The tubular sleeve has a locking ring adjacent to a bottom side of the U-shaped support, and the locking ring is configured with a number of locking holes. The seat fastener member is configured on a bottom side of the U-shaped support adjacent to the swivel joint. A number of pivot elements are applied as hinges. The major objective of the present invention lies in that, with the above-described structure, when the back frame is tilted backward, the knob of the seat frame presses the seat fastener member to engage a locking hole of the locking ring, thereby preventing the swivel joint and the U-shaped support from swiveling. As such, when a user sleeps on the recliner, the recliner does not turn or vibrate to wake or surprise the user when the user rolls over in his/her supine position.
In addition, the footrest further includes a footrest board. The footrest board is slidably placed above and between the sliding rails. A collapsible arm with an elbow joint is connected between a bottom side of the footrest board and the guiding rail. The guiding rail has a front section joined to a trough of the collapsible arm, and a front end of the collapsible arm is hinged to a bottom side of the footrest board. As such, when the recliner is in an upright position, the footrest board is farther away from the seat frame, and, when the recliner is in a reclined position, the footrest board is automatically closer to the seat frame. Therefore, the position of the footrest board naturally conforms to the legs of a user when they are bended or stretched. This is another objective of the present invention.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a recliner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective break-down diagram showing the recliner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing the connection between a seat frame and a footrest of the recliner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective break-down diagram showing the connection between the seat frame and the footrest of the recliner of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram showing a first telescopic rod and a second telescopic rod of the recliner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a schematic profile diagram showing a back frame of the recliner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a schematic profile diagram showing a seat frame and a U-shaped support of the recliner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a footrest of the recliner of FIG. 1 being extended.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a footrest of the recliner of FIG. 1 being retracted.
FIG. 10 is a schematic top-view diagram showing a seat fastener member of a seat frame of the recliner of FIG. 1 being engaged.
FIG. 11 is a schematic profile diagram showing a seat fastener member of a seat frame of the recliner of FIG. 1 being engaged.
FIG. 12 is a perspective break-down diagram showing a U-shaped support, a seat fastener member, and a swivel joint of the recliner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 13 is a perspective diagram showing a seat fastener member and a U-shaped support of the recliner of FIG. 1 after being assembled.
FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional diagram showing a swivel joint of the recliner of FIG. 1.
FIG. 15 is a schematic profile diagram showing the recliner of FIG. 1 in an upright position.
FIG. 16 is a schematic profile diagram showing the recliner of FIG. 1 in a reclined position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a recliner according to an embodiment of the present invention is largest wrapped in a padded member 1 and mainly includes an electrical control member 2, a back frame 3, a seat frame 4, a H-shaped frame 5, a pair of arms 6a, 6b, a curved arm 7, a U-shaped support 8, a base 50 with a swivel joint 60, a seat fastener member 70, a footrest 9, and a number of pivot elements 10,11,12. The back frame 3 includes a backrest frame 30 and a headrest frame 31 whose lateral edges hinged to the top ends of the backrest frame 30. The two lateral edges of the backrest frame 30 are hinged to the back ends of the seat frame 4. The seat frame 4 has a front beam 40 connecting two front ends of the seat frame 4. The front beam 40 has a pair of first ears 40a, 40b extending perpendicularly forward, a pair of second ears 40c, 40d extending perpendicularly backward and downward, and a third ear 40e between the first ears 40a, 40b extending forward and downward. The footrest 9 is positioned in front of the front beam 40 and the footrest 9's two back ends are hinged to the first ears 40a, 40b. Two back ends of the H-shaped frame 5 are respectively hinged to the pair of second ears 40c,40d. Two front ends of the H-shaped frame 5 are respectively hinged to the back ends of the pair of arms 6a, 6b, whose front ends are hinged to middle sections of the lateral edges of the footrest 9. The curved arm 7 has a back end hinged to the third ear 40e, and a front end hinged to a bottom side of the footrest 9. An engaged coupler 5b is extended downward from a central beam 5a of the H-shaped frame 5. An engaging coupler 4g is extended downward from a cross beam 4f of the seat frame 4. The U-shaped support 8 is positioned beneath the seat frame 4, and has its two sides hinged to two lateral edges of the seat frame 4. A first coupler 8a is extended upward from a front section of a bottom side of the U-shaped support 8. A second coupler 30h is extended downward from a bottom edge of the back frame 3. The electrical control member 2 has a controller 20 controlling the electricity input of a power source 21 to a first telescopic rod 22 and second telescopic rod 23. The first telescopic rod 22 has a front end hinged to the first coupler 8a, and a back end hinged to the second coupler 30h. The second telescopic rod 23 has a front end hinged to the engaged coupler 5b, and a back end hinged to the engaging coupler 4g. The pivot elements 10, 11, 12 are applied in the above-mentioned hinges. The U-shaped support 8 is joined to a top end swivel joint 60, and may swivel by the swivel joint 60. The seat fastener member 70 is configured on the bottom side of the U-shaped support 8 adjacent to the swivel joint 60. A locking member 4h is configured on the seat frame 4 so that, when the back frame 3 is tilted backward, the seat frame 4 presses the seat fastener member 70, and locking member 4h locks the swivel joint 60 and U-shaped support 8 to prevent swiveling. More details will be provided later.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the footrest 9 includes a footrest frame 90 and a footrest board 91. The footrest frame 90 includes a cross beam 90a, two parallel sliding rails 90b, 90c respectively extended forward from two ends of the cross bream 90a, and a guiding rail 90d between the sliding rails 90b, 90c hinged to the curved arm 7. The footrest board 91 is slidably placed above and between the sliding rails 906, 90c. A collapsible arm 92 with an elbow joint 92d is connected between a bottom side of the footrest board 91 and the guiding rail 90d. The two ends of the cross beam 90a are respectively hinged to the first ears 40a, 40b. The guiding rail 90d has a back section hinged to the curved arm 7 and a front section joined to a trough 92b of the collapsible arm 92. A front end of the collapsible arm 92 is hinged to a bottom side of the footrest board 91. The pivot elements 10, 11 may be bolts 13 fastened by nuts 14. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the pivot element 12 may be a pin 15 fastened by locking pin 16. The pair of arms 6a, 6b have their back ends hinged to the H-shaped frame 5, and their front ends hinged to middle sections of the sliding rails 906, 90c.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the two top ends of the backrest frame 30 are configured with semi-circular tips 30a. The two bottom ends of the headrest frame 31 are configured with polygonal tips 31b with notches 31a. Limiting pins 31c are configured on the headrest frame 31 adjacent to polygonal tips 31b so that, when the semi-circular tips 30a are joined, the limiting pins 31c would be near the outer rims of the semi-circular tips 30a. Limiting pins 30b are configured on the backrest frame 30 adjacent to the semi-circular tips 30a so that, when the polygonal tips 31b are joined, the Limiting pins 30b would be embedded in the notches 31a. The polygonal tips 31b and the semi-circular tips 30a are hinged by pins 30c. Therefore, the headrest frame 31 may tilt relative to the backrest frame 30 within an angular range. Hook segments 30d are extended from the bottom ends of the backrest frame 30, and notches 30e are formed along front rims of hook segments 30d. Pin holes 30f and limiting troughs 30g are configured adjacent to the notches 30e. Through the pin holes 30f and the limiting troughs 30, the backrest frame 30 is hinged to the seat frame 4. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the U-shaped support 8 has two raised arms 8b, each configured with a front finger 8c, a rear finger 8d, and a gap 8e in between. The front fingers 8c are hinged to the seat frame 4. As the seat frame 4 tilts backward, its cross beam 4f would be embedded into the gaps 8e and blocked by the gaps 8e from further tilting.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the locking member 4h is configured on a piece 4i extended downward from the cross beam 4f of the seat frame 4 above the engaging coupler 4g. A threaded tube 4k is laterally extended from the piece 4i, which in turn is joined to a knob 4j. The knob 4j is adjacent to and above the seat fastener member 70.
As shown in FIG. 12, the seat fastener member 70 is configured on a bottom side of the U-shaped support 8. The seat fastener member 70 has a base 71 fixed to the bottom side of the U-shaped support 8. A pressure piece 72 is hinged to the base 71. The U-shaped support 8 has a through hole 8f through which the swivel joint 60 is extended. A spring member 72a is configured on the U-shaped support 8 between the base 71 and the through hole 8f. The U-shaped support 8 has a through hole 72d and two bolt holes 72e, 72f beneath the spring member 72a. The spring member 72a has springs 73a, 73b, 73c above the through hole 72d and the bolt holes 72e, 72f. The springs 73a, 73b, 73c jointly support a plate 74. A number of bolts 75a, 75b, 75c run through the plate 74 and join respectively with tubes 76b, 76c and a rod 76a. The tubes 76b, 76c and the rod 76a are extended from a bottom side of the plate 74 and runs respectively into the springs 73a, 73b, 73c. The rod 76a has a longer length than those of the tubes 76b, 76c, and the springs 73a, 73b, 73c. The rod 76a runs through the springs 73a and further through the through hole 72d. When the plate 74 is pressed downward, as such, the rod 76a would move downward through the through hole 72d. As shown in FIG. 13, the pressure piece 72 extends above the plate 74 and the through hole 8f toward the back of the seat frame 4. The end of the pressure piece 72 is adjacent to the knob 4j shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, the swivel joint 60 has an axle 61 running through a tubular sleeve 62. A number of bearings 63, 64, 65 are configured between the axle 61 and the tubular sleeve 62. The axle 61 runs upward beyond the tubular sleeve 62 and fixedly into the through hole 8f. The tubular sleeve 62 has a locking ring 66 adjacent to a bottom side of the U-shaped support 8. The locking ring 66 is configured with a number of locking holes 66a, 66b, 66c. When the recliner is tilted backward, as shown in FIG. 12, the rod 76a is pushed by the pressure piece 72 downward through the through hole 72d and into one of the locking holes (66a or 66b or 66c), thereby preventing the recliner to swivel. As shown in FIG. 14, along an inner wall of the tubular sleeve 62, a fan-shaped chamber is configured and, corresponding to the chamber, a protrusion 68 is extended from the axle 61 and embedded into the chamber. As the protrusion 68's movement is confined in the chamber, the swivel joint 60 can only allow the recliner to swivel within a range of 280 degrees.
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 16, by operating the various control buttons on the controller 20, the second telescopic rod 23 may be extended to drive the H-shaped frame 5 which in turn engages the curved arm 7 to raise the footrest 9. As shown in FIG. 15, when the footrest 9 is retracted, the footrest board 91 has a longer distance L1 from the seat frame 4. When the footrest 9 is extended, as shown in FIG. 16, the distance is reduced a shorter L2. In other words, when the recliner is in an upright position, the footrest board 91 is farther away from the seat frame 4, and, when the recliner is in a reclined position, the footrest board 91 is automatically closer to the seat frame. Therefore, the position of the footrest board 91 naturally conforms to the legs of a user when they are bended or stretched. When the recliner is in the upright position, the seat frame 4 tilts little and the knob 4j does not press the pressure piece 42. The rod 45 is raised elastically out of the locking holes 66a, 66b of the locking ring 66. The recliner is, therefore, free to swivel. When the recliner is tiled backward, the tilted seat frame 4 engages the knob 4j to press the pressure piece 72, which in turn drives the plate 74, so that the rod 45 runs through the locking holes 66c of the locking ring 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 20 may control the power source 21 so that the first telescopic rod 22 may tilt the back frame 3 or the second telescopic rod 23 may raise the footrest 9. Once the swivel of the recliner is locked as described above, a user would not be disturbed when he/she rolls over on the recliner, providing an improved seating experience than the prior arts.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.
Patent Application
20240315449
