CHAIR

• US 3,712,666 A
• Filed: 12/16/1970
• Issued: 01/23/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martin Stoll
• Original Assignee: Martin Stoll
• Inventors: Stoll, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Zugel, Francis K.
• Application Number:
  US05/098,579
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 297/325,326,316,313,312,61,114,408,355,354,391,284
• US Class Current: 297/61
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0244 by fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03283 with fluid springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/036 the parts including a head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/024 with double seats
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/14 of adjustable shape; elastically mounted ; adaptable to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions movably-coupled seat and backrests with elastic adjustment means A47C1/03261; elastically-mounted back-rests or backrest-seat units in the base frame A47C7/44

Abstract

Chair having tiltable rigidly interconnected seat and back portions with the front edge of the seat portion being tiltable during backward tilting movement towards an inclined position for an increased leg comfort and provided with a head support pivotally mounted to the top of the back portion together with means for automatically tilting the head support forwardly as the chair is moved towards a reclining position to maintain the head erect and means for selectively rendering the automatic head support rotating means inoperative.

Claims

1. Tilting chair comprising, in combination, a seat member, a back support structure associated therewith so as to extend generally vertically when said seat member is disposed in a generally horizontal position, means for supporting said seat member, means for enabling said back support to be tilted generally backwardly from a generally vertical working position to a generally rearwardly inclined position when a person seated therein leans backwardly, a head support member disposed generally adjacent the upper end portion of said back support and mounted for tilting movement relative thereto about a generally horizontally extending axis between a first position in general alignment therewith and a second position tilted generally forwardly relative thereto, means for automatically moving said head support away from said first position and towards said second position during rearward tilting movement of said back support so that said head support remains substantially vertical at all times comprising, in turn, first hydraulic control means structurally and operatively connected between said back support and said support means for containing a volume of hydraulic fluid therein which decreases upon a rearward tilting movement of said back support relative said support means, second hydraulic control means structurally and operatively connected between said head support and said back support for tilting said head support generally forwardly relative said back support upon the addition of hydraulic fluid thereto and conduit means interconnecting said first and second hydraulic control means so that fluid displaced outwardly of said first hydraulic control means during backward tilting movement of said head support will enter said second hydraulic control means to provide a similar forward tilting movement of said head support together with disabling means located for convenient operation by such seated person for disabling said means for automatically moving said head support to enable said head support to remain in general alignment with said back support at the option of such seated person even when reclining, comprising, in turn, means for diverting such displaced fluid from flow into said second hydraulic control means.

2. Chair defined in claim 1 wherein said seat member and said back support are generally rigidly interconnected substantially perpendicular one another, said support means comprises a support stand and said first control means comprises a variable volume fluid pump connected between said support stand and said rigidly interconnecting seat member and back support.

3. Chair defined in claim 1 wherein said diverting means comprises manually operable hydraulic control means having a maNually selectable volume operatively connected with said conduit means for selectively diverting hydraulic fluid therefrom so that the automatic tilting action of the head support is disabled to enable manual positioning thereof.

4. Chair defined in claim 3 wherein each of said hydraulic control means comprises a piston-cylinder arrangement.

5. Chair defined in claim 4 wherein said back support and said seat member are rigidly interconnected in generally perpendicular relationship and wherein said first control means is pivotally mounted with said seat member generally adjacent the rearward extent thereof.

6. Tilting chair comprising, in combination, a seat member, a back support structurally associated therewith so as to extend generally vertically when said seat member is disposed in a generally horizontal position, means for supporting said seat member, means for enabling said back support to be tilted generally backwardly from a generally vertical working position to a generally rearwardly inclined position when a person seated therein leans backwardly, a head support member disposed generally adjacent the upper end portion of said back support and mounted for tilting movement relative thereto about a generally horizontally extending axis between a first position in general alignment therewith and a second position tilted generally forwardly relative thereto, a bell crank pivotally mounted with said back support and having two arms extending generally outwardly perpendicular the pivotal axis in angularly spaced apart relationship, first linkage means extending between one arm of said bell crank and said support means for rotating said bell crank during rearward tilting movement of said back support, second lever means extending between the other arm of said bell crank and said head support for tilting said head support upon rotation of said bell crank so that said head support tilts forwardly during rearward tilting movement of said back support and thereby remains generally vertical in all positions of said back support, at least one of said linkage systems comprising a pair of linkage rods disposed in generally parallel adjacent overlapping relationship and a slider casing structurally associated with one of said pair of rods provided with an aperture through which the other of said pair of rods extends, said other of said pair of rods being provided with a first recess generally perpendicular the axis thereof at a location whereat it will be in the confines of a slider casing when said back support is in its upright position and said head support is in alignment therewith and a manually movable transverse control rod extending slidably through said coupler intersecting said aperture so as to engage said first recess to preclude relative movement between said casing and said other one of said rods for selectively locking said parallel rods for generally axial movement as a unit enabling automatic tilting of said head support, said transverse control rod being provided with a mating recess for selective alignment with said other of said rods and movement of said other rod therepast to enable sliding movement of said other rod when said mating recess is positioned to intersect said aperture, so that said head support may move independently of said back support.

7. In a chair having a back support portion movable between generally upright and reclining positions, a head support portion tiltably carried by said back support portion adjacent an upper end portion thereof for movement therewith and means for tilting said head support portion relative said back support portion when said back support portion is in a reclining position between a generally upright position and a position in general alignment with said back support portion;

control means positioned for operation by an occupant of said chair for selectively controlling the angular relationship of said head support portion relative said back support portion enabling such occupant to select between an uprIght position of said headrest portion angularly disposed relative said back support portion and an aligned position of said head support portion relative said back support portion when the back support portion is in the reclining position thereof, for automatically moving said head support portion away from said aligned position and towards said upright position during rearward tilting movement of said back support portion so that said head support portion remains substantially vertical at all times and for selectively precluding such automatic movement and comprising, in turn, first hydraulic control means structurally and operatively connected between said back support and said support stand for containing a volume of hydraulic fluid therein which decreases upon rearward tilting movement of said back support relative said support stand, second hydraulic control means structurally and operatively connected between said head support and said back support for tilting said head support generally forwardly of said back support upon the addition of hydraulic fluid thereto, conduit means interconnecting said first and second hydraulic control means so that fluid displaced outwardly of said first hydraulic control means during said rearward tilting movement of said back support will enter said second hydraulic control means to provide a similar forward tilting movement of said head support and manually operable hydraulic control means connected with said conduit having a manually selectable volume operatively connected with said conduit means for selectively diverting hydraulic fluid therefrom so that the automatic tilting action of the head support is disabled to enable manual positioning thereof.

8. Chair defined in claim 7 wherein each of said hydraulic control means comprises a piston-cylinder arrangement.

9. In a chair having a seat support carried by a support stand, a back support portion movable between generally upright and reclining positions, a head support portion tiltably carried by said back support portion adjacent an upper end portion of said back support portion for movement therewith and means for tilting said head support portion relative said back support portion when said back support portion is in a reclining position between a generally upright position and a position in general alignment with said back support portion;

control means positioned for operation by occupant of said chair for selectively controlling the angular relationship of said head support portion relative said back support portion enabling such occupant to select between an upright position of said headrest portion angularly disposed relative said back support portion in an aligned position of said head support portion relative said back support portion when the back support portion is in the reclining position thereof and automatically moving said head support portion away from said aligned position and towards said upright position during rearward tilting movement of said back support portion so that said head support portion remains substantially vertical at all times and for disabling such automatic movement comprising a bell crank and link system comprising, in turn, a bell crank pivotally mounted with said back support and having two arms extending generally outwardly perpendicular the pivotal axis in angularly spaced apart relationship, first linkage means extending between one arm of said bell crank and said support stand for rotating said bell crank during rearward tilting movement of said back support, second lever means extending between the other arm of said bell crank and said head support for tilting said head support upon rotation of said bell crank so that said head support tilts forwardly during rearward tilting of said back support and thereby remains generally vertical in all positions of said back support, at least two linkage rods of said bell crank and linkage system being disposed in generally parallel adjacent overlapping relationship and a slider casing structurally associated with one of said rods provided within aperture through which the other of said rods extends, said other of said rods being provided with a first recess generally perpendicular the axis thereof at a location whereat it will be within the confines of the slider casing when said back support is in its upright position and said head support is in alignment therewith and a transverse control rod extending slidably through said coupler intersecting said aperture so as to engage said first recess to preclude relative movement between said casing and said other one of said rods, said transverse rod being provided with a mating recess for enabling sliding movement of said other rod when said mating recess intersects said aperture.