Reclining chair

• US 5,918,935 A
• Filed: 06/03/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Simons
• Original Assignee: Bruce Burness, Edward L. Stulik
• Inventors: Burness, Bruce, Stulik, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US08/868,448
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 297/300.5, 297/300.2, 297/301.4, 297/302.4, 297/303.4, 267/131, 267/132, 267/177, 248/550, 248/597
• US Class Current: 297/300.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03255 with a central column, e.g. rocking office chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03266 with adjustable elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03272 with coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs

Abstract

A reclining chair including a support base, a chair seat rotatably coupled at its forward portion to the support base, a substantially vertically disposed coil spring provided adjacent the forward portion of the seat and between the seat and the support base such that the coil spring is pivotally coupled to the seat portion and the support base at its ends and an apparatus for pivoting one end of the coil spring about another end of the coil spring.

Claims

1. A reclining chair comprising:

a support base;

a chair comprising at least a seat portion;

a means for coupling a forward portion of said seat portion to said support base such that said seat portion moves substantially about a pivoting axis located adjacent said forward portion;

at least one coil spring provided adjacent said forward portion of said portion and between said seat portion and said support base;

a means for coupling ends of said coil spring pivotally to said seat portion and said support base, said means for coupling ends of said coil spring pivotally to said seat portion and support base comprise;

a first spring cup engaging one end of said coil spring, said first spring cup further comprising at least one arm extending longitudinally from said first spring cup along said coil spring with an extending end pivotally coupled to said support base; and

a second spring cup engaging another end of said coil spring, said second spring cup pivotally coupled to said seat portion; and

a means for pivoting one end of said coil spring about another end of said coil spring;

whereby by pivoting said one end of said coil spring about said another end of said coil spring an effective force per unit distance of said coil spring is varied and said reclining chair is made equally comfortable to sit and recline throughout an entire range from heavy to lightweight persons.

2. The reclining chair according to claim 1, wherein said means for pivoting one end of said coil spring about said another end of said coil spring simultaneously varies a preload and said force per unit distance of said coil spring.

3. The reclining chair according to claim 1, wherein said means for pivoting said one end of said coil spring about said another end of said coil spring comprises a means for moving said first spring cup.

4. A reclining chair comprising

a support base;

a chair comprising at least a seat portion and a back portion;

a means for coupling a forward portion of said seat portion to said support base such that said seat portion moves substantially about a pivoting axis located adjacent said forward portion;

at least one coil spring provided adjacent said forward portion of said seat portion and between said seat portion and said support base;

a means for coupling ends of said coil spring pivotally to said seat portion and said support base, said means for coupling ends of said coil spring pivotally to said seat portion and support base comprise;

a first spring cup engaging one end of said coil spring, said first spring cup further comprising at least one arm extending longitudinally from said first spring cup along said coil spring with an extending end pivotally coupled to said support base; and

a second spring cup engaging another end of said coil spring, said second spring cup pivotally coupled to said seat portion;

a means for pivoting one end of said coil spring about another end of said coil spring;

a means for coupling said seat and back portions together such that when said seat portion is pivoted about said pivoting axis, said back portion simultaneously pivotally moves about a pivoting axis located above said portion and adjacent said back portion;

whereby by pivoting said one end of said coil spring about said another end of said coil spring an effective force per unit distance of said coil spring is varied and said reclining chair is made equally comfortable to sit and recline throughout an entire range from heavy to lightweight persons.

5. The reclining chair according to claim 4, wherein said means for pivoting one end of said coil spring about said another end of said coil spring simultaneously varies a preload and a force per unit distance of said coil spring.

6. The reclining chair according to claim 4, wherein said means for pivoting said one end of said coil spring about said another end of said coil spring comprises a means for moving said first spring cup.