Health care reclining chair

• US 5,890,765 A
• Filed: 06/07/1996
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
• Inventors: George, Donald A., LaPointe, Larry P., Miller, Mark D., Saul, Jonathan R., Brettschneider, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US08/659,998
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 297/354.13, 297/343, 297/342, 297/173, 297/162, 297/143, 297/155, 297/154, 297/188.15, 108/43, 108/128, 108/80, 108/78
• US Class Current: 297/354.13
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0352 characterised by coupled seat and back-rest slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0355 actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms

Abstract

A health care reclining chair is disclosed which includes a rigid chair frame assembly. An improved deep recline swing linkage assembly is disclosed which permits the seat back of the chair to be fully reclined into a substantially flat position relative to the seat and operably suspends the seat assembly for reclining motion within the chair frame assembly. A mobile base assembly is interdisposed between the chair frame assembly and the floor to permit the reclining chair to be used for transportation of a seated occupant. Furthermore, a tilting mechanism is operably coupled between the mobile base assembly and the chair frame assembly for permitting tilting movement of the chair frame relative to the base assembly. The health care reclining chair of the present invention may further be adapted to include a leg rest assembly positionable between a retracted position and an extended position for providing further comfort. In this manner, the seat assembly provides a substantially flat occupant-supporting surface which is generally parallel to the floor surface to define a bed-like surface which may be further oriented to place a head rest portion of the seat back slightly below a foot rest portion of the leg rest assembly for placing an occupant in a trendelenburg position.

Claims

1. A reclining chair comprising:

a chair frame including a pair of side frame members interconnected by a rear cross frame member and a front cross frame member having a first shaft;

a seat assembly including a seat back and a seat;

a swing linkage mechanism operably coupling said seat assembly to said chair frame to permit reclining movement of said seat assembly between an upright position and a deep recline position, said swing linkage mechanism including a front slide assembly operably coupled to said first shaft and a rear swing link having a first end pivotally connected at a first pivot to said chair frame and a second end pivotally connected to said seat at a second pivot; and

limit means operably connected between said rear swing link and said seat for defining the limits of said reclining movement;

when said seat assembly is in said deep recline position, said swing linkage mechanism being positionable such that said second pivot achieves an over-center condition with respect to a line drawn between said first shaft and said first pivot, whereby said seat back achieves a substantially flat position relative to said seat.

2. The reclining chair of claim 1 further comprising a base assembly supporting said chair frame above a floor surface, said chair frame being operably coupled to said base assembly to permit tilting movement therebetween.

3. The reclining chair of claim 2, further comprising:

said seat back including a head rest portion;

said leg rest assembly including a foot rest portion; and

a tilt linkage mechanism operable to place said head rest portion slightly below said foot rest portion when said seat assembly is in said deep recline position.

4. The reclining chair of claim 2 further comprising a tilt linkage mechanism including:

a tilt link secured to said chair frame and pivotally connected at a first end to said base assembly; and

a lift linkage including a drive link secured to an actuation rod for rotation therewith and a lift link pivotally connected at a first end to said drive link and pivotally connected at a second end to said tilt link.

5. The reclining chair of claim 4 wherein said tilt linkage mechanism further includes a toggle linkage for providing mechanical assistance during said tilting movement.

6. The reclining chair of claim 2 further comprising a tilt linkage mechanism including:

a pivot assembly operably connected between said chair frame and said base assembly; and

a lift link operably connected at a first end to said base assembly forward of said pivot assembly and pivotally connected at a second end to said front slide assembly such that said reclining movement of said seat tilts said chair frame relative to base assembly.

7. The reclining chair of claim 6 wherein said tilt linkage mechanism further comprises:

a drive rod suspended from said chair frame for rotation;

a lift lever bracket secured to said base assembly forward of said pivot assembly;

a lift lever operably coupled at a first end to said drive rod and pivotally connected to said first end of said lift link; and

said lift lever being pivotally connected to said lift lever bracket at a point intermediate said first and second ends of said lift lever;

whereby rotation of said drive rod rotates said lift link into an upright position to tilt said chair frame relative to said base assembly.

8. The reclining chair of claim 2 further comprising:

a rocker block secured to a lower portion of said side frame and having a contoured surface for engaging an upper surface of said base assembly to permit rocking movement therebetween; and

a rocker spring assembly interdisposed between said rocker block and said base assembly for urging said chair frame into a substantially upright, neutral position.

9. The reclining chair of claim 8 further comprising:

a ratchet secured to said front frame cross member; and

a pawl pivotally connected to said base assembly for pivotally positioning between an engaged position with said ratchet to disable rocking movement of said chair frame relative to said base assembly and a disengaged position with ratchet to enable rocking movement of said chair frame relative to said base assembly.

10. The reclining chair of claim 2 wherein said base assembly comprises a set of casters extending therefrom.

11. The reclining chair of claim 10 further comprising a foot tray positionable from a stowed position beneath said chair frame and a use position in front of said chair frame below a front portion of said seat.

12. The reclining chair of claim 1 further comprising:

a drive rod suspended from said chair frame for rotation;

a front reinforcement bracing interdisposed between said drive rod and said front cross frame member; and

a rear reinforcement brace interdisposed between said drive rod and said rear cross frame member.

13. The reclining chair of claim 1 further comprising a side table positionable between a stowed position adjacent to and substantially parallel with said side frame member and a use position substantially perpendicular with said side frame member.

14. A health care chair comprising:

a chair frame having a shaft and a seat disposed therein;

a swing link having a first end pivotally connected to said chair frame at a first pivot and a second end pivotally connected to said seat at a second pivot;

a seat back operably coupled to said swing link and positionable between an upright position and a deep recline position such that said second pivot achieves an over-center condition with respect to a line drawn between said shaft and said first pivot when said seat back is in said deep recline position; and

a leg rest assembly operably coupled to said chair frame and positionable between a retracted position and an extended position independent of said seat back;

wherein said seat back and said leg rest assembly are operable to be contemporaneously cantilevered from said chair frame in said reclined position and said extended position respectively such that said seat, said seat back and said leg rest assembly define a substantially flat occupant-supporting surface.

15. The health care chair of claim 14 further comprising a base assembly supporting said chair frame above a floor surface, said chair frame being operably coupled to said base assembly to permit tilting movement therebetween.

16. The health care chair of claim 15 further comprising:

said seat back including a head rest portion;

said leg rest assembly including a foot rest portion; and

a tilt linkage mechanism operable to place said headrest portion slightly below said foot rest portion when said seat assembly is in said deep recline position.

17. The reclining chair of claim 16 further comprising a tilt linkage mechanism including:

a tilt link secured to said chair frame and pivotally connected at a first end to said base assembly;

a lift linkage including a drive link secured to an actuation rod for rotation therewith and a lift link pivotally connected at a first end to said drive link and pivotally connected at a second end to said tilt link; and

a toggle linkage for providing mechanical assistance during said tilting movement.

18. The reclining chair of claim 15 wherein said base assembly comprises a set of casters extending therefrom.

19. The health care chair of claim 14 further comprising:

said chair frame including a pair of side frame members interconnected by a rear cross frame member and a front cross frame member;

a drive rod suspended from said chair frame for rotation;

a front reinforcement bracing interdisposed between said drive rod and said front cross frame member; and

a rear reinforcement brace interdisposed between said drive rod and said rear cross frame member.

20. The health care chair of claim 14 further comprising an attendant tray assembly including:

a mount bracket secured to said chair frame;

a tray top hingedly secured along an inboard lateral edge of said tray top to an upper edge of said mount bracket such that said tray top is pivotally positionable from a vertical stored position wherein said mount bracket and said tray top are substantially parallel to a horizontal use position wherein said mount bracket and said tray top are substantially perpendicular; and

a brace hingedly secured to a bottom surface of said tray top such that said brace is pivotally positionable from a first position wherein said brace is substantially parallel to said tray top when said tray top is in said vertical stored position to a second position wherein said brace is substantially perpendicular to said tray top and said mount bracket when said tray top is in said horizontal use position.

21. The health care chair of claim 20 wherein said attendant tray further comprises said tray top defines a table top having a cutout portion along a central portion of an outer lateral edge thereof.

22. The health care chair of claim 20 wherein said attendant tray further comprises a bottom surface of said tray top has a recess formed therein for receiving said brace when said tray top is in said substantially vertical stowed position.

23. The health care chair of claim 20 wherein said attendant tray further comprises a pair of protuberances disposed on said mount bracket laterally adjacent said brace in said vertical position for centering said brace.