GB2326586A - Reclining chair - Google Patents

Description

RECLINING CIZAIR This invention relates to an adjustable reclining chair.

The ability to adjust the angle of the back of a chair according to preference is well known. Such reclining chairs supposedly offer increased comfort to the user but, in fact, may not be particularly suited to encouraging a correct sitting posture. Indeed, reclining chairs can become uncomfortable over an extended period of sitting.

There is thus a need for a reclining chair which allows greater long term comfort during prolonged use. Increasing comfort in this manner is of particular interest in the health care market, including nursing homes, hospitals and day centres.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable reclining chair, comprising a seat, a back, and a frame, the seat having a front and a rear edge and being supported by the frame, wherein the seat and the back are connected such that, as the back reclines, the rear edge of the seat rises.

As the back of the chair reclines, the effect of the seat rear edge rising is to increase the included angle at the connection between the seat and the back to a greater extent than if the seat was stationary. This increased angle reduces pressure placed on the sitter's lower abdominal internal organs and under the thighs. This in turn reduces constriction of peripheral blood vessels and improves circulation in the lower limbs, which increases long-term comfort for the sitter over prolonged seated periods.

The seat and/or the back may be pivotally attached to the frame, but preferably it is the back only. If both are pivotally attached to the frame, it will probably be necessary for the seat rear edge and/or the back to be telescopic in order to allow pivoting to occur. If only one pivot is used, the back and the rear edge of the seat are preferably connected by a hinge.

Any suitable means for supporting the seat on the frame can be employed. For instance, the front of the seat may rest on a bar of the frame which is substantially horizontal.

Alternatively, the frame could comprise one or more protrusions (eg. a fixed rubber bush) which engage slots on the underside of the seat which are parallel to the direction of sliding seat movement. Such an arrangement assumes that the seat is free and the back is pivoted.

It will be appreciated, however, that certain simple methods of support allow the front edge of the seat to be lifted upwards. Hence, preferably, the support also prevents the seat from being lifted in this way. Again, there are numerous ways in which this can be achieved. For instance, T-shaped protrusions may be used to engage a flanged slot.

Alternatively, the seat may be supported by protrusions extending from the seat which engage grooves or tracks running along the frame.

Preferably the relative orientations of the seat, the back and the frame can be locked in a plurality of positions, which may be predetermined. The means for locking in this way may be mounted on the seat, the back or the frame, and may be incorporated into the structure on the frame which supports the seat.

Preferably the chair comprises means for locking in five predetermined positions. This could be achieved, for instance, by the seat providing five notches which can be engaged by a locking member fixed to the frame. Preferably such a locking member can be operated by hand, for instance whilst sitting in the chair.

The chair may comprise means for limiting the available movement of the back and seat relative to the frame.

Preferably the movement of the seat is limited such that its rear edge cannot rise above its front edge (ie. the seat is horizontal). Such limiting means may conveniently be incorporated as extremities of the locking means.

Means for support, locking and limiting can be incorporated together, for instance using a seat slide affixed to the underside of the seat which engages one or more protrusions affixed to the frame which support the seat. As the seat moves, the seat slide moves relative to the protrusions. The seat slide contains five notches along its length and attached to the frame there is a lever which can engage the notches, fixing the position of the seat relative to the frame when engaged in this manner. The seat slide is closed so that the protrusions cannot exit the slide at the front or the back, and this serves to limit the available movement of the seat. The first and last notches are set at the extremes of front and back movement.

The position of the pivot and of the seat/frame support point can be varied to allow gearing in the movement of the seat and back. With this in mind, preferably the chair is assembled such that 40 of movement by the back is accompanied by 1" of movement by the seat. Alternative gearing ratios may, of course, be used.

Variations typical of chairs in general can, of course, be employed. For instance: the height of the back can be varied; the chair can be upholstered, for instance using flame resistant fabrics, and the coverings may be removable, for instance using Velcro ; the chair can be padded, for instance using combustion-modified foam; the frame can be made of any suitable material, such as beech wood, and to increase strength and durability mortise and tennon joints can be employed; the frame may incorporate arms for the chair.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a chair according to the invention in two positions; and Figure 2 illustrates a front view of a chair according to the invention.

The drawings show a chair (10) having a seat (40), a back (20), and a frame (30). The seat (40) has a front edge (42) and a rear edge (41). The rear edge (41) of the seat (40) is connected to the back (20) by a hinge (45). The back (20) is attached via a pivot (25) to the frame (30). The seat (40) is supported on the frame (30) using a sliding mechanism (55) which engages a pair of rubber bushes (58). The sliding mechanism (55) is affixed to the seat (40) by bolts (43) and can be locked in five predetermined positions by engaging a hand-operated seat slide lever (60) into one of five notches in the sliding mechanism (55). The seat (40) and back (20) shown in Fig. 1 are covered with combustion modified high resilient foam (50) upholstered with flame retardant fabric.

In the first position shown in Fig. 1, the positions of the pivot (25) and the supporting rubber bush (58) are such that the rear edge (41) of the seat (40) is inclined at an angle of 40 below horizontal, and the back (20) is inclined 21 rearward from the vertical. The angle between the seat (40) and the back (20) is 107". The chair (10) is locked in this position by engaging the hand-operated seat slide lever (60) into one of the five notches in the sliding mechanism (55).

The angle of the seat (40) relative to the frame (30) varies as the back (20) reclines. The positions of the pivot (25) and the supporting rubber bush (58) are such that every 4" movement of the back (20) produces a concurrent 10 movement in the seat (40).

In the second position, the back (20) has moved 160 rearward (ie. it is now 370 rearward from the vertical), and the seat (40) has reached the horizontal. The angle between the seat (40) and the back (20) is 127 . The chair (10) is locked in this position by engaging the hand-operated seat slide lever (60) into another of the five notches in the sliding mechanism (55).

Therefore, between the first and second positions the angle between the seat (40) and the back (20) increases by 20 .

The front edge (42) of the seat (40) moves forward by 60mm, but the height of the front edge of the seat (42) remains essentially constant.

It will be understood that the invention is described above by way of example only and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. An adjustable reclining chair, comprising a seat, a back, and a frame, the seat having a front and a rear edge and being supported by the frame, wherein the seat and the back are connected such that, as the back reclines, the rear edge of the seat rises.

2. A chair according to claim 1, wherein the back is pivotally attached to the frame.

3. A chair according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rear edge of the seat is connected to the back by a hinge.

4. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat is supported on the frame using one or more rubber bushes fixed to the frame.

5. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat cannot be lifted away from its support.

6. A chair according to claim 5, wherein a T-shaped rubber bush fixed to the frame engages a flanged slot on the underside of the seat.

7. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the positions of the seat and back can be locked in a plurality of positions.

8. A chair according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of positions are predetermined.

9. A chair according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the seat is locked in position by using a hand-operated device.

10. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein 4" of movement by the back is accompanied by 10 of movement by the seat.

11. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the chair is upholstered.

12. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawlnc

12. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is made of beech wood using mortise and tennon joints.

13. A chair substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. An adjustable reclining chair, comprising a seat, a back, and a frame, the seat having a front and a rear edge and being supported by the frame, wherein the seat and the back are connected such that, as the back reclines, the rear edge of the seat rises, characterised in that (a) the seat comprises a sliding mechanism affixed to the underside of the seat, and (b) the chair can be locked in position by engaging a hand-operated seat slide lever into a notch in the sliding mechanism.

2. A chair according to claim 1, wherein the back is pivotally attached to the frame.

3. A chair according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rear edge of the seat is connected to the back by a hinge.

4. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat is supported on the frame using one or more rubber bushes fixed to the frame.

5. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat cannot be lifted away from its support.

6. A chair according to claim 5, wherein a T-shaped rubber bush fixed to the frame engages a flanged slot on the underside of the seat.

7. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the positions of the seat and back can be locked in a plurality of positions.

8. A chair according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of positions are predetermined.

9. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein 40 of movement by the back is accompanied by 10 of movement by the seat.

10. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the chair is upholstered.

11. A chair according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame is made of beech wood using mortise and tennonjoints.