Adjustment device for beds and other reclining or seating furniture

• US 6,494,538 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1999
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kjartan Alvestad
• Original Assignee: Kjartan Alvestad
• Inventors: Alvestad, Kjartan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US09/380,200
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 297/316, 297/DIG.10, 297/301.1, 297/300.1, 297/45, 297/317, 297/342, 297/354.13, 297/325, 297/318, 297/320, 561/7, 561/8, 561/9, 562/0
• US Class Current: 297/316
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/1753 by sliding, e.g. by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/08 with means for adjusting two or more rests simultaneously

Abstract

The adjustment of the angular setting is provided between the parts (R, S, F) in a reclining or sealing article of furniture, which has two or more mutually adjustable, articulated parts which together form the frame of the article, and where the frame is mounted in a support member (A) by of transverse axes or axis journals (2, 3, 5), the back member'"'"'s (R) axis (2) is securely mounted in a pivot bearing (11). The axes (3, 5) of the remaining part(s) (s/ or S and F respectively) are movably mounted in the support member'"'"'s longitudinal direction. The back member'"'"'s (R) axis (2) is mounted at a distance from the joint connection (1) of the seat member (S).

Claims

1. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back frame member having a bottom end and a one-piece seat frame member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a single hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back frame member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the one-piece seat frame member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back frame member.

2. The adjustable article of furniture of claim 1, wherein the second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums is defined by aligned axles movable by rolling in guide slots provided in the support member or in members mounted thereon.

3. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end, a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member,

the hinged frame further including a foot member hinged to the front end of the seat member and having a third pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums fixed relative to a point on the support member,

wherein the second pair of fulcrums is coincident with the hinging of the foot member to the front end of the seat member and movable relative to the fixed point in the direction of the length of the frame.

4. The adjustable article of furniture of claim 3, wherein the second and third pairs of horizontally aligned fulcrums are arranged in a central area of the respective seat and foot members.

5. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end and a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member,

the hinged frame further including a foot member hinged to the front end of the seat member and having a third pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums, one of the second and third pair of aligned fulcrums being fixed at a point on one of the respective seat and foot members and rotatably connected with one end of an arm having another end rotatably connected with the support member at a lower point so that the arm may assume an oblique angle relative to the other of the second and third pair of aligned fulcrums.

6. The adjustable article of furniture of claim 5 wherein the second and third pairs of horizontally aligned fulcrums are arranged in a central area of the respective seat and foot members.

7. The adjustable article of furniture of claim 5, including a pair of arms, each having one end pivoted to the second and third pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums, respectively, the opposite end of each of the pair of arms pivoted to the second pair of aligned fulcrums being rotatably attached at the hinge axis between the seat member and the foot member, and the opposite end of each of the pair of arms pivoted to the third pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums being rotatably connected with the support member at a lower point.

8. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end and a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member,

the hinged frame further including a foot member hinged to the front end of the seat member and having a third pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums, and wherein the second and third pairs of horizontally aligned fulcrums are coincident at a common pivot axis and the common pivot axis is arranged at the end of an angular extension of the foot member.

9. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end and a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member,

the back member including a joint mechanism for an automatically adjustable neck support on the back member.

10. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end and a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member, and mounting an operating mechanism for angular displacement of the back member, and for locking the back member in any position of adjustment.

11. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end and a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member, and, wherein the support member is tiltable through an angle of about 12 degrees in relation to a floor surface.

12. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end and a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, the second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums being defined by aligned axles movable by rolling in guide slots provided in the supporting member mounted thereon; and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member,

the hinged frame further including a foot member hinged to the front end of the seat member and having a third pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums, the third pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums having a larger displacement in the support member than that of the second pair of aligned fulcrums.

13. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end and a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, the second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums being defined by aligned axles movable by rolling in guide slots provided in the supporting member mounted thereon; and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member,

wherein the first distance is selected so that the angle between the seat and back members is infinitely variable for adjustment between 180 degrees and 90 degrees, the second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums being movable forwards and backwards along an approximately straight line in relation to the first pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums.

14. An adjustable article of furniture having a length and comprising:

a supporting member;

a hinged frame including a back member having a bottom end and a seat member having front and rear ends, the bottom end of the back member being connected directly to the rear end of the seat member by a hinge having a hinge axis,

means for mounting said hinged frame in the supporting member including a first pair of horizontally aligned transverse fulcrums positioned on the back member at a first distance from the hinge axis and pivotally received in a fixed journal on the supporting member, and a second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums on the seat member and carried by the supporting member for movement through a second distance along the length of the article of furniture, the second pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums being defined by aligned axles movable by rolling in guide slots provided in the supporting member mounted thereon; and

a downwardly directed lever arm securely connected with the back member for controlling angular displacement of the back member,

wherein the hinged frame further includes a foot member hinged to the front end of the seat member and having a third pair of horizontally aligned fulcrums, and wherein the second and third pairs of horizontally aligned fulcrums are movable in the support member along an approximately straight line so that an angular adjustment of between about 180 degrees and 90 degrees between the back member and the seat member causes an angular change of between about 180 degrees and 220 degrees between the seat member and the foot member.