Reclining elevator chair
First Claim
1. In a reclining chair having a frame, a back portion, a seat portion, a leg rest portion, recliner actuator means including means for swinging said back portion between an upright and a reclined position and means for moving said leg rest portion between an extended and a retracted position, the improvement comprising elevator means for raising said seat and simultaneously tilting said seat forwardly to assist exit from said chair, and power-actuated drive means common to both the recliner actuator means and the elevator means for sequentially actuating both the recliner actuator means and the elevator means and being operable sequentially in a first mode of operation to drive the recliner actuator means to swing said back portion between its upright and reclined positions and to simultaneously move said leg rest between its retracted and extended positions while said seat is in its lowered position, and operable in a second mode of operation to drive the elevator means to raise and tilt said seat forwardly, said power actuator drive means comprising a crank connected to said recliner actuator means, and abutment means connected to the elevator means and disposed in the path of crank movement to transfer the force of said drive means from the recliner actuator means to the elevator means at a transfer point between said first and second modes of operation, said power-actuated drive means comprising an extendible and retractable ram pivotally connected at one end to said frame and pivotally connected at the other end to said crank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reclining elevator chair having a tiltable back, an extendible leg rest, and means for raising the seat and simultaneously tilting it forwardly to assist arthritic or other partially disabled persons in leaving the chair. A power-driven ram tilts the back and extends and retracts the leg rest in one mode of operation. In a second mode of operation, the same ram raises the seat and tilts it forwardly. The first mode of operation occurs when the ram is retracted below a predetermined length and the second mode of operation occurs when the ram is extended beyond the predetermined length. When the ram is equal to the predetermined length, a portion of the mechanism which tilts the back and extends and retracts the leg rest abuts against a portion of the seat frame and transfers the force of the ram from the back and leg rest to the seat.
80 Citations
23 Claims
- 1. In a reclining chair having a frame, a back portion, a seat portion, a leg rest portion, recliner actuator means including means for swinging said back portion between an upright and a reclined position and means for moving said leg rest portion between an extended and a retracted position, the improvement comprising elevator means for raising said seat and simultaneously tilting said seat forwardly to assist exit from said chair, and power-actuated drive means common to both the recliner actuator means and the elevator means for sequentially actuating both the recliner actuator means and the elevator means and being operable sequentially in a first mode of operation to drive the recliner actuator means to swing said back portion between its upright and reclined positions and to simultaneously move said leg rest between its retracted and extended positions while said seat is in its lowered position, and operable in a second mode of operation to drive the elevator means to raise and tilt said seat forwardly, said power actuator drive means comprising a crank connected to said recliner actuator means, and abutment means connected to the elevator means and disposed in the path of crank movement to transfer the force of said drive means from the recliner actuator means to the elevator means at a transfer point between said first and second modes of operation, said power-actuated drive means comprising an extendible and retractable ram pivotally connected at one end to said frame and pivotally connected at the other end to said crank.
- 7. In a reclining chair having a frame, a back portion, a seat portion, a leg rest portion, recliner actuator means including means for swinging said back portion between an upright and a reclined position and means for moving said leg rest portion between an extended and a retracted position, the improvement comprising elevator means for raising said seat and simultaneously tilting said seat forwardly to assist exit from said chair, and power-actuated drive means common to both the recliner actuator means and the elevator means for sequentially actuating both the recliner actuator means and the elevator means and being operable sequentially in a first mode of operation to drive the recliner actuator means to swing said back portion between its upright and reclined positions and to simultaneously move said leg rest between its retracted and extended positions while said seat is in its lowered position, and operable in a second mode of operation to drive the elevator means to raise and tilt said seat forwardly, said power-operated drive means comprising an extensible ram which extends in one range during said first mode of operation and in another range in said second mode of operation.
- 9. In a reclining chair having a frame, a back portion, a seat portion, recliner actuator means including means for swinging said back portion between an upright and a reclined position, the improvement comprising elevator means for raising said seat and also tilting said seat forwardly to assist exit from said chair, and poweractuated drive means common to both the recliner actuator means and the elevator means for sequentially actuating both the recliner actuator means and the elevator means and being operable sequentially in a first mode of operation to drive the recliner actuator means and operable in a second mode of operation to drive the elevator means, said power-operated drive means comprising an extensible ram which extends in one range during said first mode of operation and in another range in said second mode of operation.
- 19. A chair having a frame, a back portion, a seat portion, back actuator means including a crank for swinging said back portion between various positions respecting the seat portion, elevator means for raising said seat and also tilting said seat forwardly to assist exit from the chair, elevator drive means including an extendible and retractable ram pivotally connected at one end to the frame and pivotally connected at the other end to said crank, said crank being connected on a pintle to said seat portion and an abutment on the seat portion in the path of crank movement to impose the thrust of the ram on the seat portion to drive the elevator means, the thrust axis of the ram being offset from said pintle so that a moment arm between said pintle and said axis exerts turning moment on the crank to force the crank against said abutment during a first portion of elevation of the chair, and means for relieving the crank of said turning moment during a second portion of elevation of the chair and freeing said back actuator means for swinging said back portion rearwardly during said second portion to avoid imposition of ejecting pressure on the occupant of the chair.
Specification