Reclining chair

• US 4,533,177 A
• Filed: 05/21/1980
• Issued: 08/06/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Knoll Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Knoll International, Inc. (Dixie Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Latone, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, James T.
• Application Number:
  US06/151,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 297/313, 297/303, 297/304, 297/305, 297/306, 297/326, 297/285, 297/291, 297/300, 297/301, 297/302, 297/61
• US Class Current: 297/303.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/026 with central column, e.g. rocking office chairs; Tilting chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/441 with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/443 with coil springs

Abstract

A reclining chair having a seat portion connected pivotally at its forward end includes an arm compressible with progressive resistance to support the rear of the seat portion. The compressible arm is arranged to form with the seat portion an angle which continually decreases as the chair is reclined, and continually increases as the chair is returned to its upright position. In one embodiment, the compressible arm travels through a horizontal position so that it may be kept as close as possible to the horizontal at all times.

Claims

1. A chair including a base portion, a seat portion connected pivotally at its forward end to said base portion and adapted to be reclined, and means including an arm compressible with progressive resistance for supporting a rear portion of said seat portion, said arm having spaced-apart portions respectively connected pivotally to said rear portion and pivotally to said base portion to form with said seat portion an angle continually decreasing during reclining of said seat portion.

2. A chair according to claim 1, said angle being a maximum of approximately 45°

.

3. A chair according to claim 1 or 2, said arm being connected to that portion of said base portion located generally below the center of gravity of any person sitting upon said seat portion.

4. A chair according to claim 3, said arm comprising an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member slidable telescopingly within said outer tubular member, a spring held under compression between opposed ends of said members, and means for adjusting the distance between said opposed ends.

5. A chair according to claim 1 or 2, said arm being adapted to pivot through the horizontal as said seat portion is pivoted between its two extreme positions.

6. A chair according to claim 5, said arm being horizontal when said chair is approximately at the mid point between its extreme positions.

7. A chair according to claim 5, said arm comprising a rod connected pivotally at one end to the rear portion of said seat portion and its other end extending slidably through a block mounted pivotally to said base portion, a compression spring held between said block and a knob threadedly engaged with said rod whereby the compression of said spring may be adjusted by turning said knob.

8. A chair according to claim 1, in which said pivotal attachment of said seat portion to said base portion is located generally vertically above said pivotal attachment of said arm to said base portion.