US2705042A - Adjustable reclining chair - Google Patents

Description

m'ch 29, 1955 c, STREIT 2,705,042

ADJUSTABLE RECLINING CHAIR Filed July 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

1N1 'ENTOR.

By M/ ZM 37 AT'IOENE ys.

mmh 29, 1955 c, STREIT 2,705,042

ADJUSTABLE RECLINING CHAIR Filed July 14, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 BYMZ gfN V EN TOR.

A M/$4M Arrow/n5.

United States Patent 0 2,705,042 ADJUSTABLE RECLINING CHAIR Carl F. Streit, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The C. F. Streit Manufacturing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a partnership Application July 14, 1953, Serial No. 367,838 10 Claims. (Cl. 155--116) This invention relates to easy chairs of the adjustable type and particularly to a mechanism providing adjustment of the chair in several upward steps from a full reclining position to a generally upright or reading position.

A chair incorporating an adjustment mechanism involving generally the same principles is disclosed in the patent issued to Carl F. Streit, No. 1,674,846, dated June 26, 1928. The structure disclosed in the patent consists of a fixed support frame or base and a composite seat assembly comprising an upholstered seat and back rest which, for convenience, is called a seat" throughout the present specification and claims. The seat has its forward end pivotally mounted within the base and its rearward end supported by a ratchet mechanism which includes an elongated pawl extending across the support frame. The opposite ends of the pawl are pivotally connected to the frame and engageable with ratchet teeth carried on the rearward edge of the seat thereby supporting the seat in adjusted position.

One of the dominant features of the patented structure resides in the arrangement of the pawl whereby it is pivoted to an inactive position automatically when the seat is shifted beyond its upright limit, thereby allowing the seat to be lowered to its reclining position.

Downward motion of the seat to reclining position shifts the pawl back to its active position, allowing the seat to be adjusted upwardly. The mechanism thus provides convenient adjustment of the seat without the use of manually operated means for engaging or disengaging the awl. p Easy chairs incorporating this structure have been manufactured and sold for many years and have been a commercial success; however the ratchet mechanism is subject to certain disadvantages and can be improved in the following respects: First the entire weight load at the rear of the seat is imposed directly upon the pivot bearings of the pawl, leading to concentrated wear a nd looseness at the bearings and in some cases requiring replacement of parts after the chair has been sub ected to hard usage. Secondly, the motion of the pawl to its active and inactive positions is not positive since the pawl is delicately poised and its position is partially dependent upon gravity; consequently, it is necessary at times to shift the seat several times in making an adjustment, especially if the parts are worn or loosely fitted.

Thirdly, the tripping of the pawl to its active and inactive positions requires that the parts be fabricated and fitted together in precise relationship at assembly in order to function properly.

One of the primary objects of the present invention therefore has been to provide a ratchet mechanismhaw ing a pivoted tumbler which, in load supporting position, imposes the weight load of the seat d1rec tly upon the support frame instead of upon its pivot P1118. Accordingly, the seat is more firmly supported in its ad usted position and at the same time, the pivot bearings of the tumbler are entirely relieved of the load and preserved from wear and looseness.

Another object has been to provide a ratchet mechanism in which a tumbler is shifted to active and inactive positions relative to the ratchet teeth in a positive manner to provide more reliable and convenient ad ustment of the seat.

The present structure consists of a support frame and a seat pivotally mounted at its forward end, generally similar in construction to the prior arrangement. However, the structure differs in that the ratchet teeth at the rear of the seat are engaged by a pivoted tumbler bar which operates like a pawl but which, in seat supporting position, rests directly upon an abutment rail attached 8 rigidly to the support frame beneath the tumbler bar.

Figure 1,

2,705,042 Patented Mar. 29, 1955 In load supporting position, the tumbler bar resides in a horizontal plane resting upon the abutment rail, with its opposite ends supporting the downwardly facing shoulders of the teeth in cantilever fashion. Accordingly, the weight load of the seat acts in a generally vertical plane through the tumbler bar and upon the fixed abutment rail beneath it to provide a firm support with no load imposed upon the pivot bearings. The opposite ends of the bar which support the load have buttress shaped spurs, the ends of which project into the interdental spacers delineated by the downwardly facing shoulders and arranged to swing upwardly to clear the ratchet teeth as the seat is elevated.

T he seat is adjusted in upward steps from a full reclining position to a generally upright position; additional upward motion disengages the tumbler and allows the seat to return to full reclining position. To provide positive actuation of the tumbler to disengaged position, there is provided a curved flat spring below the ratchet teeth which, upon motion of the seat beyond its upright limit, is effective to engage and swing the tumbler upwardly against a positive stop. At this point, the tumbler 1S latched positively by a detent and so remains until downward motion of the seat brings a pair of shoulders mto engagement with the bar. The shoulders overhang the ratchet teeth and are effective to disengage the detent and rotate the tumbler bar into engagement with its abutment rail, thus conditioning the mechanism for upward readjustment. During upward adjustment, the tumbler bar is rotated upon the pivot pins by the upwardly moving ratchet teeth but not for a sufiicient distance to engage the detent; therefore as each pair of teeth moves above the tumbler, the tumbler drops down upon the abutment rail by gravity in position to engage the teeth if the seat is lowered upon it at that point.

The present structure takes advantage of the abutment rail to utilize a tumbler bar which has a detachable pivotal connection to the support frame to facilitate original assembly of the chair and to allow the chair to be taken apart for shipment and handling. For this purpose, one end of the tumbler bar is slotted to embrace its pivot pin. The slot opens rearwardly and the tumbler bar is inserted before the seat assembly is installed by slipping a bored end of the bar upon one pivot pin, then shifting the slotted end laterally in a rearward direction to engage its pin at the opposite side. When the seat assembly is thereafter inserted in operating position, the ratchet teeth prevent forward motion of the slotted end of the tumbler bar and thus lock it upon its pivot pins.

The several components of the ratchet mechanism are constructed preferably of wood in harmony with the character of the chair. Construction is simplified by the detachable mounting of the tumbler bar and associated parts, as explained later, allowing all the parts to be fabricated on a rapid production basis with liberal tolerances and assembled without individual fitting of the parts without the use of tools.

Various other features and advantages of the invention are more fully disclosed in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side elevation of the chair in its upright adjustment.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view projected from illustrating generally the mounting of the seat at the forward and rearward ends of the support frame.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3, Figure 5, detailing the detachable mounting of the tumbler bar.

Figure 4 is a view generally similar to Figure 1 with the support frame in section to illustrate generally the arrangement of the adjustment mechanism.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the ratchet mechanism taken on line 5-5, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from Figure 5 detailing the detent structure at one end of the tumbler bar.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing termediate position.

Figure 8 illustrates the pivotal action of the tumbler bar as the seat is adjusted upwardly.

Figure 9 shows the tumbler bar being latched in its inactive position as the seat is elevated beyond the upright. position.

Figure 10 shows the tumbler bar being rotated back to its active position as the seat is lowered to full reclining position.

Described generally with reference to Figures 1 and 4 the chair assembly comprises a base or support frame which rests upon the floor, with the seat and com ponent back rest 16 mounted for angular adjustment with respect to the frame. For this purpose, the forward end of the seat is pivotally connected as at 17 to the frame on opposite sides and its rearward end is supported at selected elevations by the ratchet mechanism indicated generally at 18. The seat is arranged to be adjusted from the upright position shown in full lines in Figure l to one of several selected reclining positions as indicated in broken lines (Figure 4) by raising or lowering the rearward end of the seat with the forward end turning about the pivot point 17.

As described later in detail, the ratchet mechanism is provided with a series of ratchet teeth or shoulders which are engaged selectively by a pawl or tumbler bar as the rearward end of the seat is swung upwardly from the full reclining position shown in full lines to the upright position shown in broken lines (Figure 4). In making the adjustment, the user simply grasps the back rest which forms a part of the seat and raises it upwardly a suflicient distance to move one or more of the ratchet shoulders upwardly above the swinging edge of the tumbler bar.

Briefly, the adjustment is made in upward steps from the full reclining position, the seat assembly being locked against downward motion at the selected upward positions by the ratchet mechanism. When the seat is shifted upwardly beyond its upright limit, the ratchet mechanism is automatically disengaged, allowing the seat to swing down to its initial full reclining position, whereupon the ratchet mechanism is reengaged to support it. This conditions the ratchet mechanism for the same stepwise upward adjustments; therefore the seat is adjusted either up or down by direct shifting of the seat itself and the ratchet mechanism responds automatically without manual operation of a release member. The motions of the seat and tumbler bar in the several seat positions is illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 7 to 10.

Described in detail with reference to Figures 1 and 4, the support frame 15 is a generally rectangular structure comprising a pair of spaced side rails 20-20 joined together at the front by a cross rail 21. As explained later in detail, the frame further includes a rearward support rail 22 which sustains the tumbler bar 23 firmly against downward motion when engaged by the ratchet shoulders. The support rail 22, as explained later, is effective to bear the weight load at the rearward end of the seat and sustain the seat firmly in its adjusted position.

The support frame 15 is provided on opposite sides with arm rests 24-24 which include uprights rising from the side rails 20. The frame is supported in spaced relationship above the floor upon forward and rearward legs 25 which project downwardly from the side rails. The support frame forms a rigid box-like member preferably formed of wood providing a suitably finished piece of cabinet work.

The seat frame is also constructed of wood and consists generally of a pair of side rails 26-26 spaced from one another and spanned by a cross member 27, suitably arranged to support the seat cushion 28. The back rest includes a pair of generally upright side members 30-30 spaced apart and having their lower ends attached to the side rails 26 of the seat. In addition, suitable cross bracing (not shown) extends crosswise between the uprights to support the back cushion 31. The back cushion may be attached to its frame in a conventional manner and is suitably upholstered, while the seat cushion may be placed loosely in position. It will be understood that the seat frame is slightly narrower than the support frame and that it is fitted between the side rails 20-20 to permit angular adjustment.

'As explained earlier, the seat assembly is readily detached from the support frame and may be compactly crated for shipment and conveniently assembled at its 4 destination. For this purpose, the pivot mounting 17 and ratchet mechanism 18 are arranged to allow the seat to be installed and removed from the base frame without detaching any parts. As best shown in Figure 4, the pivot mounting is in duplicate at opposite sides of the frame and consists of a pair of pivot pins 32-32 mounted upon the front legs 25 and projecting inwardly toward the seat. Each pivot pin includes a mounting plate 33 seated upon the inner surface of its mounting leg and attached by wood screws passing into the leg, with both pivot pins located upon a common horizontal axis. Each pivot pin projects at opposite sides into a curved slot 34 formed in a metal guide plate 35 which is attached to the side rails of the seat frame by screws. The seat side rails each include a routed slot corresponding to slot 34 providing clearance for the outer end portion of the pivot pin. The curved slot is disposed generally upon a vertical axis and includes an open lower end 36 providing entry for the pivot pin. It will be understood that the structure so far described is identical on both sides of the chair. 7

It will be noted in Figure 4, that the open end 36 of the slot is delineated by curved edges on opposite sides providing a flaring throat to facilitate entry of the pivot pin. The slot is engaged upon its pin by placing the forward end of the seat upon the pins then shifting the seat lengthwise to bring the flared opening into alignment with the pins. The seat is grasped at its rearward end during assembly and is free to follow the curve of the slot as the slotted portion slides down upon the pins. After the pins are fully engaged in the slots, with the rear end engaged by the ratchet mechanism, the curve of the slot provides a locking engagement with the pins.

This locking engagement is effective to prevent the seat assembly from tipping backwards. In other words, if the back restis forced downwardly or rearwardly, the seat assembly tends to rock downwardly while the forward end tends to swing upwardly through an are centered upon the ratchet mechanism. However, by virtue of the curve, the edges of the slots engage the pins, locking the forward edge of the chair to the support frame while its rearward end is locked by the ratchet mechanism. As explained later, the pivotal connection also provides a limited amount of fore and aft motion which facilitates adjustment and engagement of the ratchet mechanism.

The ratchet mechanism consists of the elongated tumbler bar 23 pivotally mounted upon pins 37 between the rearward legs 25 and engageable selectively with a series of ratchet shoulders or teeth 38. The ratchet teeth are formed in the rearward edge of respective ratchet blocks 40-40 which are preferably fabricated from hardwood and set into the rearward corners of the seat frame as best shown in Figure 4. The teeth project rearwardly and engage over the free edge of the pivoted tumbler bar 23 adjacent its opposite ends.

To provide clearance for the tumbler bar, the rearward surface of the back rest is inset between the ratchet blocks as indicated at 41 in Figure 1. In the particular style illustrated, the upholstery covering of the seat assembly is extended to the base of the ratchet blocks at opposite sides and extends across the inset between the ratchet blocksto provide a neat, trim appearance, with the teeth projecting beyond the covering for engagement with the tumbler bar.

One of the important features of the present structure resides in the mounting of the tumbler, whereby the tumbler is firmly supported when in load bearing position by the support rail 22. According to this construction, the pivotal mounting pins 37 for the tumbler are disposed above the support rail and-are completely relieved of the weight load of the seat to preserve the mech anism against excessive wear and to provide a rigid support. In other words, when the seat is locked in its adjusted position, the weight load is transmitted through the tumbler to the support rail 22, which forms a fixed part of the support frame 15, such that the load is carried directly by the frame instead of being carried upon the pair of coaxial pivot pins 37.

Described with reference to Figures 4 and 7, it will be noted that the tumbler bar proper is substantially rectangular in cross section and that the support rail 22 is provided with an abutment bar 42, attached by screws to the upper edge of the support rail and extending parallel with and beneath the tumbler bar. The top surrace of the abutment Dar pro ects slightly above the top surface of the support rail and, when in seat supporting position (Figure l the tumbler rests upon the upper surface of the abutment bar.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the outer end portions of the tumbler bar are undercut at an angle as indicated at 4444, providing overhanging buttresses 45-45 at opposite ends which, in load supporting position, prO- ject into the interdental spaces or the ratchet teeth and engage the shoulders 46 of the teeth at opposite sides of the seat. The undercut portion 44 of the tumbler provides clearance for the ratchet teeth during upward movement of the seat as shown in Figure 8, the ratchet blocks having a substantial width and the undercut portions 44 being slightly greater in Width to provide clearance for the teeth. Thus upon upward movement of the seat, the inclined surfaces 47 of the teeth bear against the angular undercut surface 44 at opposite sides to swing the tumbler upwardly to the inchned position shown in Figure 8. lt will be understood at this point, that the tumbler abutment bar 42 is coextensive with the rectangular portion 48 of the tumbler and terminates at the undercuts at opposite ends to provide clearance for the ratchet teeth.

It will be noted in Figures 3 and 8, that the side of the tumbler bar, which is opposite to the ratchet teeth, is inclined downwardly as at 49. The inclined side extends to the bottom surface of the bar so as to provide clearance between the tumbler bar and the support rail 22 assembly when the tumbler swings to disengaged or inactive position. The opposite side of the bar proper, which extends between the undercuts 44 and seats upon the abutment bar 42, has a greater width than the buttresses and is square in cross section as indicated at 50 to provide a solid seat upon the full length of the abutment bar. It will be seen in Figure 5 that the buttresses 45 extend outwardly beyond the opposite ends of the abutment bar 42 and thus support the ratchet teeth in cantilever fashion at opposite ends.

The tumbler bar is preferably fabricated from hardwood such as maple so as to withstand hard usage without excessive wear or failure. It will be seen that the buttress 45 is disposed directly above the surface of the abutment bar 42 and that the weight load is imposed by the ratchet shoulders directly in compression through the tumbler bar to the abutment bar, such that the pivotal mounting pins are relieved of all stress when the tumbler bar is in load sustaining position.

Since the pivot mountings are not required to support the weight load of the seat assembly, it has been possible to mount the bar in a detachable manner and there by simplify the fabrication and assembly operations. The construction and arrangement of the mounting means is best illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and is such 57 that the bar is inserted and removed by placing one of its ends in bearing engagement upon one pivot pin 37 then swinging its opposite end laterally into bearing engagement upon the second pivot pin. After the bar is thus inserted to its operating position, the forward end of the seat is engaged upon the forward pivot pins 17-17 and the rearward end is then swung down to its engaged position upon the bar. The engagement of the ratchet blocks is then effective to lock the tumbler bar positively in its operating position. This arrangement greatly simplifies the assembly operation since it eliminates the need of accurately locating and attaching the pivot pins 37 and other parts at final assembly.

Referring to Figures 3 and 5, it will be noted that the right hand end of the tumbler bar is provided with an open slot 51 which includes an open end 52 terminating at the outer surface of the bar. The inner end of the slot is rounded and includes a semi-circular metal bushing 53. The fixed pivot pin 37 projects into the slot, the pin having a diameter approximately equal to the width of the slot and being in bearing engagement with the bushing 53. The pivot pin is attached to a mounting plate 55 which is anchored by wood screws projecting into the rear leg 25. It will be observed that if the seat is elevated sufiiciently to raise the ratchet blocks above the plane of the tumbler bar, the slot 51 will allow the bar to be shifted laterally toward the front of the chair to a disengaged position. The bar is then removed by shifting it axially out of engagement with respect to the pivot pin 37 on the opposite side. As shown in Figure 6, the left end of the tumbler bar includes a bore 56, preferably including a metal sleeve 5'! providing a bearing engagement with the left hand pivot pin 3'/. The pivot pin is atacned to a mounting plate 58 generally similar to the right hand structure and anchored in a similar manner by screws on to the rear leg 25.

in order to latch the tumbler bar in a reliable manner in its disengaged or inactive position as shown in Figure 9, the left end of the bar is provided with a spring loaded detent plunger 61 which normally rides upon the surface of plate at; and which snaps into engagement into an elongated slot 62 formed in the plate, when shifted to the rully disengaged position. The detent plunger is slidably mounted in a cylindrical sleeve 63 seated in a hole drilled in the end of the tumbler bar and located radially from bore 56. A spring 64 is confined in compression between the inner end of the sleeve and the end of the detent plunger. The plunger includes an enlarged head 65 connned 1n the sleeve and engageable with a shoulder 66 formed at the outer end of the sleeve to retain the plunger in the sleeve.

As shown in Figure 9, the tumbler bar is shifted to its disengaged position by a fiat spring 67- attached by screws 66 to the lower portion of the left hand ratchet block. The spring includes an outwardly curved portion which bears against the under cut 44 of the bar as the seat assembly 18 swung upwardly beyond its full upright position. Upon being engaged, the bar swings upwardly against a stop 70 which is struck upwardly from the plate 58. In this position the detent plunger snaps into slot 62 and locks the bar in disengaged or inactive position.

The seat is now free to be swung downwardly to its full reclining position as indicated in Figure 10. It will be observed that the tumbler bar is latched in an inclined plane with its buttresses 45 disposed inwardly of the axis of the pivot pins 37. Upon downward motion of the seat, the buttresses are contacted by the overhanging shoulders 71-71 at opposite sides which are formed in the ratchet blocks above the teeth. This forces the bar to swing downwardly through an are, releasing the detent engagement and rotating the bar to its active position, resting upon the abutment bar. The mechanism is now in condition for upward readjustment of the seat. The shoulders 71-71 preferably are provided with load supporting buttons 72-72, which engage the top surface of the buttresses at or near the central axis of the tumbler bar when in final load supporting position to provide greater stability.

As explained earlier, the various parts-are so arranged that the frame and seat assembly are fabricated under mass production techniques with maximum tolerance allowances and provide rapid, convenient: assembly. For example, a predetermined amount of clearance is provided between the forward pivot pins 17 and the slots to allow the seat to .shift slightly in the fore and aft direction. The shoulders 46 of the ratchet teeth provide a substantial overhang relative to the tumbler bar with clearance, indicated at 73, provided between the ends of the buttresses and bases of the teeth. when engaged (Figure 7). forwardly by virtue of the clearance existing between the forward pivot pins 17 and their slots; therefore, upon engagement of the ratchet teeth, the seat assembly is free to shift rearwardly to increase the purchase of the ratchet shoulders upon the tumbler bar. The pivot pin and tooth clearances thus compensate for variations which may exist from the parts of one chair to another and provide proper operation without selective assembly or individual fitting of parts.

The flat spring 67 which trips the bar to disengaged position also compensates for variations in size and location of parts. In other words, the curved spring is effective to engage the tumbler bar and force it completely back against the positive stop 70 during upward seat motion, yielding if necessary to compensate for variations in spacing between the tumbler bar and ratchet blocks. The spring thus is effective to bring about positive latching of the tumbler bar to its inactive position by the detent plunger. Fabrication and assembly procedures are further simplified by the elongated detent slot 62 which bisects the arc of motion of the detent plunger and thereby provides positive engagement without requiring precise centering of the pivot pin bore or detent plunger.

During upward motion, the seat shifts.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. An adjustment mechanism for an easy chair having a seat and component back rest, a support frame including spaced side rails, the seat being nested between the side rails and having pivotal means connecting its forward portion to the support frame on opposite sides, the seat being adjustable about the pivotal means in upward steps from a full reclining angle to a generally upright reading position, said adjustment mechanism comprising, ratchet teeth mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat on opposite sides and providing interdental spaces delineating a series of overhanging shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler bar extending across the rearward end of the support frame, pivot pins connecting the opposite ends of the tumbler bar to the support frame, the tumbler bar having swinging edge portions at opposite ends projecting into the plane of the interdental spaces, and a stationary abutment rail extending across the support frame and having its opposite ends secured thereto, the abutment rail being located beneath said tumbler bar and coextensive therewith, the tumbler bar pivoting upwardly about said pivot pins relative to the abutment rail in response to upward movement of the ratchet teeth upon adjustment of the rearward portion of the seat upwardly, the tumbler bar normally resting upon the abutment rail with a selected pair of shoulders engaged thereon in a position to support the rearward portion of the seat, the shoulders thereby imposing the weight load of the seat through the tumbler element directly upon the abutment rail to provide a firm support for the seat in adjusted position with no load imposed upon said pivot pins.

2. An adjustment mechanism for an easy chair having a seat and component back rest, a support frame including spaced side rails, the seat being nested between the side rails and having pivotal means connecting its forward portion to the support frame on opposite sides, the seat being adjustable about the pivotal means in upward steps from a full reclining angle to a generally upright reading position, said adjustment mechanism comprising, ratchet teeth mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat on opposite sides and providing interdental spaces delineating a series of overhanging shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler element pivotally mounted upon the rearward portion of the support frame and having swinging edge portions at opposite ends normally projecting into the plane of said interdental spaces. and a stationary abutment member forming a part of the support frame and located beneath said tumbler element, said tumbler element pivoting upwardly above the abutment member in response to upward movement of the ratchet teeth upon adjustment of the rearward portion of the seat upwardly, the tumbler element normally resting upon the abutment member with a selected pair of shoulders engaged thereon in a position to support the rearward portion of the seat, the shoulders thereby imposing the weight load of the seat through the tumbler element directly upon the abutment member to provide a firm support for the seat in adjusted position with no load imposed upon the pivotal mounting of the tumbler element.

3. An adjustment mechanism for an easy chair having a seat and component back rest, a support frame including spaced side rails, the seat being nested between the side rails, and pivotal means connecting its forward portion to the side rails on opposite sides, said adjustment mechanism comprising, ratchet teeth mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat on opposite sides providing interdental spaces delineating a series of overhanging shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler element movably mounted upon the rearward portion of the support frame and having edge portions at opposite ends normally projecting into the plane of the interdental spaces, and a stationary abutment member forming a part of the support frame, said tumbler element being movable relative to the abutment member in response to upward movement of the ratchet teeth upon adjustment of the rearward portion of the seat upwardly, the tumbler element normally resting upon the abutment member with a selected pair of shoulders engaged thereon in a position U to support the rearward portion of the seat, the shoulders thereby imposing the weight load of the seat through the tumbler element directly upon the abutment member to provide a firm support for the seat in adjusted position.

4. An adjustment mechanism for an easy chair having a support frame and a seat and component back rest, the seat having a forward portion pivotally connected to the support frame on opposite sides, the seat being adjustable in upward steps from a full reclining angle to a generally upright reading position, said adjustment mechanism comprising, a series of ratchet teeth mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat on opposite sides and providing overhanging shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler element pivotally mounted upon the rearward portion of the support frame and having swinging edge portions at opposite ends normally projecting into the plane of the overhanging shoulders, 21 fixed abutment member forming a part of the support frame and located beneath said tumbler element, said tumbler element pivoting upwardly above the abutment member in response to upward movement of the ratchet teeth upon adjustment of the rearward portion of the seat upwardly, the tumbler element normally resting upon the abutment member with said shoulders engaged thereon in a position to support the rearward portion of the seat, the shoulders imposing the weight load of the seat through the tumbler element and upon the abutment member, means on the rearward portion of the seat engageable with the tumbler element, said means effective when the rearward portion of the seat is raised above the generally upright reading position to shift the tumbler to a position retracted from the plane of the overhanging shoulders, cooperating detent means mounted on the tumbler element effective to latch the tumbler element in said retracted position whereby the seat is adapted to be lowered to the full reclining position, and means on the seat engageable with the tumbler element when the seat is shifted to said full reclining position effective to rotate the tumbler element to its normal position resting upon the abutment member.

5. A ratchet mechanism for an adjustable easy chair having a support frame and a seat including a back rest, the seat having a forward portion pivotally connected to the support frame on opposite sides, said ratchet mechanism comprising, a series of ratchet teeth mounted at the rearward portion of the seat on opposite sides thereof and providing a series of downwardly facing shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler bar extending transversely across the frame at the rearward end thereof in a position to selectively engage said downwardly facing shoulders, pivot means connecting the opposite ends of the tumbler bar to the support frame, a cross rail extending across the support frame below the tumbler bar and in parallelism therewith, the cross rail having opposite ends attached to the support frame, the tumbler bar being generally rectangular in cross section and resting normally in a horizontal plane upon the cross rail and having opposite ends extending beyond the ends of the cross rail, the opposite ends of the tumbler bar being undercut to provide buttresses which underlie the overhanging shoulders of the ratchet teeth and support the same with the weight load of the rearward portion of the seat transmitted through the tumbler bar downwardly upon the support rail, the buttresses providing upwardly inclined bearing surfaces engageable with the ratchet teeth and effective to rotate the tumbler bar upwardly in response to upward motion of the rearward portion of the seat and ratchet teeth, whereby the tumbler bar is supported upon said pivot means during upward motion of the ratchet teeth and is supported by the cross rail when the weight load of the rearward portion of the seat is imposed upon it at opposite ends.

6. A ratchet mechanism for an adjustable easy chair having a support frame and a seat including a back rest, the seat having its forward portion pivotally connected to said support frame on opposite sides, the seat being adjustable from a full reclining angle to a generally upright reading position, said ratchet mechanism comprising a series of ratchet teeth mounted at the rearward portion of the seat on opposite sides thereof, said teeth providing a series of downwardly facing shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler bar extending transversely across the frame at the rearward portion thereof, the tumbler bar normally residing in a horizontal active position engaging said downwardly facing shoulders, pivot means connecting the opposite ends of the tumbler bar to the support frame adapting the tumbler bar to rotate in response to the upward motion of the ratchet teeth when the rearward portion of the seat is raised, an abutment member attached to the support frame beneath the tumbler bar, the tumbler bar normally resting upon said abutment member when residing in said horizontal active position to provide a firm support for the seat, a yieldable contact member mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat below the ratchet teeth, the yieldable contact member being effective to rotate the tumbler bar about its pivot means to an inactive upwardly inclined position upon upward motion of the rearward portion of the seat beyond the upright read ing position, cooperating detent members on the tumbler bar and support frame effective to lock the bar in said inactive position whereby the seat is movable downwardly, anda pair of overhanging shoulders disposed above said ratchet teeth engageable with the tumbler bar and effective to rotate the same to its active horizontal position when the seat is adjusted to full reclining position.

A ratchet mechanism for an adjustable easy chair having a support frame and a seat including a back rest, thekseat having its forward portion pivotally connected tothe support frame on opposite sides, said ratchet mechanism comprising, a series of ratchet teeth mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat at opposite sides thereof and' disposed one above the other, a tumbler bar extending transversely across the support frame in a position to engage said ratchet teeth, pivot pins connecting the opposite ends of the tumbler bar to the support frame, the tumbler bar having a bore at one end in bearing engagement with one of said pivot pins, and having a slot at theopposite end thereof engaging the other of said pivot pins, said slot having an open end at the rearward side of the tumbler bar, the tumbler bar being locked upon said pivot pins by engagement against said ratchet teeth and being detachable by shifting said slotted end forwardly with the ratchet teeth elevated above the tumbler bar,

whereby the slot is disengaged from the pivot pin, an

abutment rail extending transversely across the side members beneath the tumbler bar, the opposite ends of the abutment rail being attached to the support frame, said tumbler bar being rotatable about the pivot pins in response to motion of the ratchet teeth upwardly as the rearward portion of the seat is adjusted upwardly, the tumbler bar normally resting upon the abutment rail and engageable with the ratchet teeth upon downward motion of the ratchet teeth, whereby the weight load imposed by the ratchet teeth upon the tumbler bar is resisted by the abutment rail.

. 8. A ratchet mechanism for an adjustable easy chair having a support frame and a seat including a back rest, the seat having its forward portion pivotally connected tofsaid support frame on opposite sides and being adjustable from a full reclining angle to a generally upright position, said ratchet mechanism comprising a series of ratchet teeth mounted at the rearward end of the chair on opposite sides thereof providing a series of downwardly facing shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler bar extending transversely across the frame at the rearward portion thereof in a position to engage said downwardly facing shoulders, a pair of pivot pins connecting the opposite ends of the tumbler bar to the support frame adapting the tumbler bar to swing upwardly in response to the upward motion of the ratchet teeth when the seat is raised, an abutment bar attached to the support frame beneath the tumbler bar, the tumbler bar normally resting in a horizontal plane upon said abutment when engaged by said downwardly facing shoulders to provide a support for the seat with the weight load imposed upon the abutment rail, a contact member mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat below the ratchet teeth, the contact member being effective to swing the tumbler bar upwardly to an inclined position retracted from the ratchet teeth upon upward motion of the rearward portion of the seat above the upright reading position, a yieldable detent plunger mounted on the tumbler bar adjacent the pivot pin at one end thereof, a slotted member mounted upon the support frame in a position to engage the detent plunger and latch the tumbler bar in said inclined posi- ;tion, and a pair of overhanging shoulders disposed above the ratchet teeth engageable with the tumbler bar and effective to disengage the detent plunger and to swing the tumbler bar to its active horizontal position when the seat is adjusted downwardly to full reclining position.

9. A ratchet mechanism for an adjustable easy chair having a support frame and a seat including a back rest, the seat having its forward portion pivotally connected to said support frame on opposite sides and being adjustable from a full reclining angle to a generally upright position, said ratchet mechanism comprising a series of ratchet teeth mounted at the rearward end of the chair on opposite sides thereof providing a series of downwardly facing shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler bar extending transversely across the frame at the rearward portion thereof in a position to engage said downwardly facing shoulders, a pair of pivot pins connecting the oppo site ends of the tumbler bar to the support frame adapting the tumbler bar to swing upwardly in response to the upward motion of the ratchet teeth when the seat is raised, an abutment bar attached to the support frame beneath the tumbler bar, the tumbler bar normally resting in a horizontal plane upon said abutment when engaged by said downwardly facing shoulders to provide a support for the seat with the weight load imposed upon the abutment rail, a contact member mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat below the ratchet teeth, the contact member being effective to swing the tumbler bar upwardly to an inclined position retracted from the ratchet teeth upon upward motion of the rearward portionf of the seat above the upright reading position, a yieldable detent plunger mounted on the tumbler bar adjacent the pivot pin at one end thereof and movable in an are upon swinging motion of the tumbler bar, the support frame having a stop mounted relative to the tumbler bar in a position to engage the tumbler bar when the same is swung upwardly to said inclined position, the support'frame including an elongated slot bisecting the arc of movement of the detent plunger and engageable with the plunger when the tumbler bar engages the stop, anda pair of overhanging shoulders disposed above the ratchet teeth engageable with the tumbler bar and effective "to disengage the detent plunger and to swing the tumbler bar to its active horizontal position when the seat is adjusted downwardly to full reclining position.

10. A ratchet mechanism for an adjustable easy chair having a support frame and a seat including a back rest, the seat having its forward portion pivotally connected to said support frame on opposite sides and being "adjuse able-from a full reclining angle to a generally upright position, said ratchet mechanism comprising a series of ratchet teeth mounted at the rearward end of the chair on opposite sides thereof providing a series of downwardly facing shoulders disposed one above the other, a tumbler bar extending transversely across the frame at the rearward portion thereof in a position to engage said downwardly facing shoulders, a pair of pivot pins connecting the opposite ends of the tumbler bar to the support jframe adapting the tumbler bar to swing upwardly in response to the upward motion of the ratchet teeth when the seat is raised, said pivot pins having mounting plates attached to the support frame on opposite sides, an abutment bar attached to the support frame beneath the tumbler bar, the tumbler bar normally resting in a horizontal plane upon said abutment when engaged by said downwardly facing shoulders to provide a support for the seat with the weight load imposed upon the abutment rail, a contact member mounted upon the rearward portion of the seat below the ratchet teeth, the contact member being effective to swing the tumbler bar upwardly to an inclined position retracted from the ratchet teeth upon upward motion of the rearward portion of the seat above the upright reading position, a yieldable detent plunger mounted on the tumbler bar adjacent the pivot pin at one end thereof and movable in an are upon swinging motion of the tumbler bar, the mounting plate of said pivot pin having an elongated slot formed therein bisecting the arc of movement of the detent plunger and engageable with the plunger and effective to latch the tumbler bar in said inclined position, and a pair of overhanging shoulders disposed above the ratchet teeth engageable with the tumbler bar and effective to disengage the detent plunger and to swing the tumbler bar to its active horizontal position when the seat is adjusted downwardly to full reclining position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,846 Streit June 26, 1928 1,720,102 Streit July 9, 1929 2,271,925 Niles Feb. 3, 1942

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