Supine recliner and mechanism

• US 5,779,310 A
• Filed: 04/10/1995
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nemschoff Chairs Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nemschoff Chairs Incorporated (Millerknoll Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dorner, Randall L., Zeier, Todd S., Suskey, Wesley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/446,916
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 297/356, 297/357, 297/354.13, 297/383, 297/354.12, 297/64-66, 297/118, 297/463.1, 5/12.1, 5/41, 5/47, 5/18.1
• US Class Current: 297/354.13
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/16 Seating furniture changeable to beds by tilting or pivoting the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/2073 by sliding forward

Abstract

An extendable chair and mechanism for use therewith to provide a wall proximate supine rest surface. A horizontal, three-support surface is available through extension of an attractive upright chair.

Claims

1. A mechanism for use with chairs having seat and back rests extendable to a sleeping position and retractable to a sitting position, such mechanism comprising:

a substantially stationary frame having an interior cross dimension;

a frame separably movable from said stationary frame and having a structural height dimension and an exterior cross dimension less than said stationary frame interior cross dimension; and

a connector between said stationary and movable frames, said connector having a plurality of non-coplanar extensible members, one said extensible member slidably engaging said stationary frame and another said extensible member slidably engaging said movable frame and having a structural height dimension less than said height dimension of said movable frame, said extensible members including two pairs of interengaging linear members, each linear member of each said pair slidably engaging the other linear member.

2. The mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein each linear member of each said pair has a complementary track member for slidable engagement with the other linear member.

3. The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein one complementary track member receives the other complementary track member, said receptive track member having vertically aligned portions dimensioned to receive said other track member.

4. The mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein one interengaging linear member of each said pair slidably engages said stationary frame, and one interengaging linear member of each said pair slidably engages said movable frame.

5. The mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein each linear member of each of said pair has a track member for slidable engagement with one of said stationary and movable frames.

6. The mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said movable frame comprises a pair of sidewalls, each said sidewall having vertically aligned portions dimensioned to receive said linear member.

7. The mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said sidewalls are interposable between said stationary frame and said connector upon retracting said mechanism.

8. The mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said interengaging linear members are juxtaposed one to the other.

9. The mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein each linear member of each pair slidably engages the other linear member.

10. The mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein one linear member of each pair slidably engages said stationary frame, and one linear member of each pair slidably engages said movable frame.

11. An extendable chair, comprising:

a seat, back rest and support member interposable between said seat and back rest, said seat, back rest and support member mechanically movable between upright and supine positions;

a stationary frame having an interior cross dimension;

a movable frame having an exterior cross dimension less than said stationary frame interior cross dimension; and

a connector between said stationary and movable frames, said connector having a plurality of non-coplanar extensible members, one said extensible member slidably engaging said stationary frame and another said extensible member slidably engaging said movable frame, such that said movable frame is positioned between said stationary frame and said connector when said chair is upright.

12. The chair as defined in claim 11 wherein said support member is pivotally attached to said movable frame such that said support member is interposed between and substantially planar to said seat and back rest upon movement of said chair from upright to supine positions.

13. The chair as defined in claim 12 wherein said support member is interposed between said seat and back rest by engagement with said connector.

14. The chair as defined in claim 11 wherein said extensible members comprise two pairs of interengaging linear members.

15. The chair as defined in claim 14 wherein one linear member of said pair slidably engages the other linear member.

16. The chair as defined in claim 15 wherein one interengaging linear member of each pair slidably engages said stationary frame, and one interengaging linear member of each pair slidably engages said movable frame.

17. The chair as defined in claim 16 wherein:

said stationary frame comprises a pair of spaced sidewalls; and

said seat is mounted to said movable frame, said seat and movable frame together having a unit dimension less than the interior cross dimension of said stationary frame.

18. An extendable chair, comprising:

a seat, back rest, and support member interposable between said seat and back rest, said seat, back rest and support member mechanically movable between upright and supine positions;

a stationary frame having an interior cross dimension;

a movable frame having a structural height dimension and an exterior cross dimension less than said stationary frame interior cross dimension;

a connector juxtaposed between and slidably engaging said stationary and movable frames and extendable from said stationary frame, said connector non-coplanar with said stationary and movable frames and having a structural height dimension less than said height dimension of said movable frame; and

an attachment member pivotally coupling said connector and said back rest, such that upon extending said connector said back rest is supinely positionable within said stationary frame.

19. The chair as defined in claim 18 wherein said attachment member further includes a pin/hole assembly to positionally secure said back rest.

20. The chair as defined in claim 18 wherein said connector engages each of said stationary-and movable frames with two pairs of complementary track members.

21. The chair as defined in claim 20 wherein one pair of track members slidably engages said stationary frame, and the other pair of track members slidably engages said movable frame.

22. The chair as defined in claim 18 wherein:

said stationary frame comprises a pair of spaced sidewalls; and

said seat is mounted to said movable frame, said seat and movable frame together having a unit dimension less than the interior cross dimension of said stationary frame.

23. The chair as defined in claim 22 wherein said support member is pivotally attached to said movable frame such that said support member is interposed between and substantially planar to said seat and back rest upon movement of said chair from upright to supine positions.

24. The chair as defined in claim 23 wherein said support member is interposed between said seat and back rest by engagement with said connector.

25. A mechanism for use with chairs having seat and back rests extendable to a sleeping position and retractable to a sitting position, said mechanism comprising:

a substantially stationary frame having an interior cross dimension;

a frame movable from said stationary frame and having a structural height dimension and an exterior cross dimension less than said stationary frame interior cross dimension; and

a connector between said stationary and movable frames, said connector having a plurality of non-coplanar extensible members, one said extensible member slidably engaging said stationary frame and another said extensible member slidably engaging said movable frame and having a structural height dimension less than said height dimension of said movable frame, said extensible members including two pairs of interengaging linear members, wherein each linear member of each said pair slidably engages the other linear member.

26. The mechanism as defined in claim 25 wherein each linear member of each said pair has a complementary track member for slidable engagement with the other linear member.

27. The mechanism as defined in claim 26 wherein one complementary track member receives the other complementary track member, said receptive track member having vertically aligned portions dimensioned to receive said other track member.

28. The mechanism as defined in claim 25 wherein said interengaging linear members are juxtaposed one to the other.

29. The mechanism as defined in claim 28 wherein each linear member of each said pair slidably engages the other linear member.

30. The mechanism as defined in claim 29 wherein one linear member of each said pair slidably engages said stationary frame, and one linear member of each said pair slidably engages said movable frame.

31. A mechanism for use with chairs having seat and back rests extendable to a sleeping position and retractable to a sitting position, said mechanism comprising:

a substantially stationary frame having an interior cross dimension;

a frame movable from said stationary frame and having a structural height dimension and an exterior cross dimension less than said stationary frame interior cross dimension; and

a connector between said stationary and movable frames, said connector having a plurality of non-coplanar extensible members, one said extensible member slidably engaging said stationary frame and another said extensible member slidably engaging said movable frame and having a structural height dimension less than said height dimension of said movable frame, said extensible members including two pairs of interengaging linear members, wherein one interengaging linear member of each said pair slidably engages said stationary frame, and one interengaging linear member of each said pair slidably engages said movable frame, and wherein each linear member of each said pair has a track member for slidable engagement with one of said stationary and movable frames.

32. The mechanism as defined in claim 31 wherein said movable frame comprises a pair of sidewalls, each said sidewall having vertically aligned portions dimensioned to receive said linear member.

33. The mechanism as defined in claim 32 wherein said sidewalls are interposable between said stationary frame and said connector upon retracting said mechanism.