Reclining chair with enhanced adjustability

Abstract

An adjustable reclining chair including a seat configured to support a user, a chair back, a base and a control mechanism mounted on the base. The control mechanism coupling the chair back to the seat with the chair back located generally adjacent to the user's back when the user is seated upon the seat. The control mechanism including a resistance adjustment mechanism for varying the control mechanism's resistance to a reclining force applied by the user to the chair back in order to move the chair back rearward from an upright position. The resistance adjustment mechanism activated by the weight of the user when seated in the chair, such that easy adjustment of the resistance is facilitated with the chair in an upright position. The resistance adjustment mechanism including a resilient member placed under a load during reclining of the chair to provide resistance to the reclining force.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair in an upright position in accordance with the present invention, including a mesh back and fixed arms.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the chair of FIG. 1 shown in a reclined position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a chair in an upright position in accordance with the present invention, including an upholstered back and adjustable arms.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the chair of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the chair of FIG. 4 shown in a reclined position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective partial view of the seat structure of the chair of FIG. 1 viewed from the front underside.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a portion of the seat structure of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a seat pan and locking lever.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a seat plate used in the seat structure in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a left side view of a portion of the seat structure with the locking lever in a locked position.

FIG. 12 is the seat structure of FIG. 11 with the locking lever in an unlocked position.

FIG. 13 is a partial right side view of the chair of FIGS. 1 and 2, including the back, seat structure and control mechanism shown in an upright position.

FIG. 14 is the chair portion of FIG. 13 shown in a reclined position.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the control mechanism, excluding the upper part of the back upright.

FIG. 16 is another exploded view of the control mechanism of FIG. 15 showing the control body components.

FIG. 17 is a partial detailed side view of a chair back pivot shown for a chair in the upright position.

FIG. 18 is the pivot of FIG. 17 with the chair in the reclined position.

FIG. 19 is a top cross-sectional view of the pivot of FIGS. 17 and 18.

FIG. 20 is a partial top cross-sectional view of the chair back of FIGS. 17-19, showing the pivot axis and user's spine location.

FIG. 21 is a detailed partial view of the control body and rear link assembly, including the tension adjustment lever.

FIG. 22 is a top view of the assembly of FIG. 21 with the tension slider in a rearward most position.

FIG. 23 is the assembly of FIG. 22 with the tension slider in a forward most position.

FIG. 24 is partial cross-sectional view of a control mechanism showing an optional adjustment of the rear link protrusion.

FIG. 25 is a top view of a portion of the back upright and control body assembly, including the tilt lock mechanism in an unlocked position.

FIG. 26 is the assembly of FIG. 24 with the tilt lock mechanism in a locked position.

FIG. 27 is a partial exploded view of the control body including the height adjustment lever assembly.

FIG. 28 is a partial rear view of the assembly of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a view of the assembly of FIGS. 27 and 28 in an assembled condition.

FIG. 30 is a partial view of the chair of FIG. 1, including the mesh back and control mechanism.

FIG. 31 is a partial top view of the chair of FIG. 1 without the seat.

FIG. 32 is a partial exploded view of the mesh seat back of the chair of FIG. 1 showing the components of the lumbar support system.

FIG. 33 is a partial rear view of the chair portion shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 34 is a partial view of the upholstered chair back of the chair in FIG. 4, shown with the fabric and foam pad removed.

FIG. 35 is an exploded view of the chair back in FIG. 34, showing the components of the lumbar support system.

FIG. 36 is a rear view of the seat back of FIG. 34.

Claims

1. A reclining chair comprising: a seat configured to support a user;a chair back;a base; anda control mechanism mounted on the base, the control mechanism coupling the chair back to the seat with the chair back located generally adjacent to the user's back when the user is seated upon the seat,the control mechanism including a resistance adjustment mechanism for varying the control mechanism's resistance to a reclining force applied by the user to the chair back in order to move the chair back rearward from an upright position, the resistance adjustment mechanism activated by the weight of the user when seated in the chair, such that easy adjustment of the resistance is facilitated with the chair in an upright position.

2. The chair of claim 1, wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism further comprises a first resilient member placed under a load when the reclining force is applied to the chair back, such that the first resilient member provides the resistance to the reclining force.

3. The chair of claim 2, wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism further comprises a stop engaged when a user is seated in an upright position within the chair, the stop generally preventing placement of the load on the first resilient member so as to facilitate easy operation of the resistance adjustment mechanism.

4. The chair of claim 3, wherein the first resilient member comprises a varying resistance to compression, and wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism utilizes the varying resistance to compression of the first resistance member in order to vary the control mechanism's resistance to the reclining force.

5. The chair of claim 4, wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism further comprises a resilient member interface positioned to engage the first resilient member and apply the load, and wherein operation of the resistance adjustment mechanism moves the first resilient member with respect to the resilient member interface thereby presenting a different resistance to compression of the first resilient member to the resilient member interface resulting in a different amount of resistance to the reclining force.

6. The chair of claim 4, wherein the first resilient member comprises a block of resilient material having a changing geometry in order to vary the resistance to compression.

7. The chair of claim 4, wherein the first resilient member comprises a block of resilient material with varying compressive characteristics in order to vary the resistance to compression.

8. The chair of claim 2, wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism further comprises a second resilient member that is placed under a load when the reclining force is applied, the second resilient member primarily facilitating return of the chair to the upright position upon removal of the reclining force.

9. The chair of claim 1, wherein resistance adjustment mechanism comprises a first, movable member and a second member generally fixed with respect to the first member in at least one direction, and wherein movement by the user of the first member relative to the second member changes the control mechanism's resistance to the reclining force.

10. The chair of claim 9, wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism further comprises a first resilient member coupled to the first, movable member, and wherein movement of the resilient member with respect to the second member changes the control mechanism's resistance to the reclining force.

11. The chair of claim 10, wherein the first resilient member comprises a varying resistance to compression.

12. The chair of claim 1, wherein the chair further comprises a sliding mechanism coupling the seat to the control mechanism, such that the seat is slidably moveable with respect to the control mechanism.

13. The chair of claim 12, wherein the sliding mechanism further comprises a sliding lock for operation by the user, the sliding lock prohibiting sliding movement of the seat in a first configuration and allowing sliding movement of the seat in a second configuration.

14. The chair of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism further comprises a tilt lock configured to prohibit reclining movement of the chair back from the upright position.

15. The chair of claim 14, wherein the control mechanism further comprises a ground member coupled to the seat and a back upright member coupled to the chair back and pivotally coupled to the ground member, and wherein the tilt lock prohibits pivotal movement of the back upright with respect to the ground member.

16. The chair of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism further comprises a ground member pivotally attached to a back upright member, with the ground member coupled to the seat chair back and the back upright member pivotally attached to the chair back at a back joint, the back joint including a pre-loaded resilient member that facilitates a continuous engagement of the chair back and the user's back during recline of the chair.

17. The chair of claim 16, wherein the chair further comprises a pair of spaced apart back joints positioned with respect to the control mechanism to substantially reduce shear forces on the user's back during reclining of the chair.

18. The chair of claim 1, wherein the chair back further comprises a back support adjustment mechanism, the back support adjustment mechanism configured to modify a stiffness of the chair back.

19. The chair of claim 18, wherein the chair back further comprises a frame and a resilient material mounted on the frame, and wherein the back support adjustment mechanism modifies a stiffness of the resilient material.

20. The chair of claim 18, wherein the back support adjustment mechanism modifies the stiffness in a lumbar region of the chair back.

21. The chair of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a central axis, and wherein the control mechanism comprises a four-bar mechanism including a ground member and a pivot member pivotally coupled to the ground member at a pivot point forward of the central axis, the pivot member pivotally attached to the chair back at a back pivot, such that a reclining force applied by the user to the chair back results in the chair back moving rearward, pivoting the pivot member relative to the ground member about the pivot point and the chair back about the back pivot, with the chair back remaining generally in contact with the user's back due to reduced shear and pull-away forces.

22. A reclining chair comprising: a chair back;a seat;a base having a central axis; anda control mechanism mounted on the base, the control mechanism coupling the chair back to the seat,the control mechanism configured as a four-bar mechanism including a ground member and a pivot member pivotally coupled to the ground member at a pivot point forward of the central axis, the pivot member pivotally attached to the chair back at a back pivot,such that a reclining force applied by the user to the chair back results in the chair back moving rearward, pivoting the pivot member relative to the ground member about the pivot point and the chair back about the back pivot, with the chair back remaining generally in contact with the user's back due to reduced shear and pull-away forces.

23. The chair of claim 22, wherein the chair back remains substantially in contact with the user's back.

24. The chair of claim 22, wherein the control mechanism further comprises a driver connected to the pivoting member and coupled to the seat, such that pivoting movement of the pivoting member results in movement of the seat.

25. The chair of claim 24, wherein the seat functions as a coupler connected to the driver within the four-bar mechanism and wherein the control mechanism further comprises a follower connected to the coupler and to the ground member, such that pivoting movement of the pivoting member results in movement of the seat relative to the ground member.

26. The chair of claim 25, wherein the seat comprises a seat assembly including a seat plate and a seat cushion moveably mounted to the seat plate, the seat plate coupled to the pivoting member and the ground member.

27. The chair of claim 26, wherein the seat assembly further comprises a seat adjustment mechanism mounted between the seat cushion and the seat plate, such that operation of the seat adjustment mechanism results in movement of the seat cushion relative to the seat plate.

28. The chair of claim 22, wherein the control mechanism further comprises a tilt lock mounted to the ground member, the tilt lock including a lock member moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein the lock member engages the pivoting member and prevents pivoting movement of the pivoting member thereby resisting the reclining force such that the chair remains in its upright position.

29. The chair of claim 22, wherein the back pivot comprises a resilient member.

30. The chair of claim 22, wherein the chair back further comprises a back support adjustment mechanism, the back support adjustment mechanism configured to modify a stiffness of the chair back.

31. The chair of claim 30, wherein the chair back further comprises a frame and a resilient material mounted on the frame, and wherein the back support adjustment mechanism modifies a stiffness of the resilient material.

32. The chair of claim 30, wherein the back support adjustment mechanism modifies the stiffness in a lumbar region of the chair back.

33. The chair of claim 22, wherein the control mechanism further comprises a resistance adjustment mechanism for varying the control mechanism's resistance to the reclining force applied by the user to the chair back in order to move the chair back rearward from an upright position, the resistance adjustment mechanism easily operated by the user when seated in the chair in an upright position.

34. The chair of claim 33, wherein resistance adjustment mechanism comprises a first, movable member and a second member generally fixed with respect to the first member in at least one direction, and wherein movement by the user of the first member relative to the second member changes the control mechanism's resistance to the reclining force.

35. The chair of claim 34, wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism further comprises a first resilient member having a varying resistance to compression, the first resilient member coupled to the first movable member, and wherein movement of the resilient member changes the resistance to compression of the resilient member encountered by the second member, thereby changing the control mechanism's resistance to the reclining force.

36. The chair of claim 22, wherein the chair back further comprises a back support adjustment mechanism, the back support adjustment mechanism configured to modify a stiffness of the chair back.

37. The chair of claim 36, wherein the chair back further comprises a frame and a resilient material mounted on the frame, and wherein the back support adjustment mechanism modifies a stiffness of the resilient material.

38. The chair of claim 36, wherein the back support adjustment mechanism modifies the stiffness in a lumbar region of the chair back.

39. An adjustable chair back comprising: a back frame;a resilient material attached to the back frame, the resilient material held in tension across the chair back; andan adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame and engaging the resilient material, the adjustment mechanism configured to modify a stiffness of the resilient material of the chair back.

40. The chair back of claim 39, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a pair of adjustment assemblies mounted on either side of the frame, each adjustment assembly including a material interface member and a handle, and wherein adjustment of the chair back results from movement of the material interface members relative to the resilient material and the frame through movement of the handles.

41. The chair back of claim 40, wherein the material interface member comprises a convex curved interface surface configured to engage the resilient material.

42. The chair back of claim 40, wherein the pair of adjustment assemblies are independently adjustable.

43. The chair back of claim 40, wherein the material interface members are positioned on either side of the chair back frame and generally outside of an area of the material to be contacted by a user's back.

44. The chair back of claim 39, wherein the adjustment mechanism is coupled to the frame in a lumbar region of the chair back, and wherein the adjustment mechanism modifies the stiffness of the resilient material in the lumbar region.