Two-step connecting element

• US 7,322,641 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ekornes Asa
• Original Assignee: Ekornes Asa
• Inventors: Krovel, Jan Kare, Ekornes, Arve, Bueide, Jostein
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/482,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 297/463.1, 297/463.2, 297/61, 297/408, 297/DIG.2, 297/410, 248/407, 248/423, 248/181.1, 248/288.31
• US Class Current: 297/61
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/036 the parts including a head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/38 for the head adjustable coupled to reclining or easy chairs A47C1/036
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs

Abstract

A device positioned within in a chair, especially a chair with an adjustable back of the chair and head rest, is disclosed. The device is configured such that between a section of the head rest and an attachment section on the chair construction is arranged a connecting element with, for example, a rod, which by movement of the adjustable back of the chair is arranged to affect the angle of the head rest in relation to the back of the chair. Further, the head rest, through use of a blocking device and a coupling organ which come into effect in the reclined position of the back of the chair, may be so adjusted either in a manual or automatic way.

Claims

1. A connecting element in a chair wherein the chair comprises an adjustable back and a head rest, said head rest having a first angle, in relation to the back of the chair, the connecting element being positioned between a section on the head rest and an attachment section on the chair, the connecting element is adjustable to affect said first angle and wherein said first angle may be adjusted into a second angle by altering the length of the connecting element, said connecting element including a guide and a slider which moves within the guide and may be locked in relation to the guide, wherein the guide and slider cooperate with a gravity influenced blocking element device to cause a locked connecting position for the connecting element in a shortened state, wherein the connecting element comprises a stopping device that limits movement of said slider in said guide, and wherein the stopping device comprises a stopper attached to the guide that runs in a track in the slider, which track limits the movement of the slider in the guide to a first end restriction and likewise hinders that the slider is pulled out of the guide by a second end restriction.

2. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element has a cross section having a geometry selected from circular, oval, square or multisided.

3. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element is equipped with a rod, said rod being partly made of a flexible material and being slightly arched.

4. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the guide and the slider of the connecting element are made of a moldable material.

5. The connecting element of claim 4, wherein the moldable material is plastic.

6. A connecting element in a chair wherein the chair comprises an adjustable back and a head rest, said head rest having a first angle, in relation to the back of the chair, the connecting element being positioned between a section on the head rest and an attachment section on the chair, the connecting element is adjustable to affect said first angle and wherein said first angle may be adjusted into a second angle by altering the length of the connecting element, said connecting element including a guide and a slider which moves within the guide and may be locked in relation to the guide, wherein the guide and slider cooperate with a gravity influenced blocking element device to cause a locked connecting position for the connecting element in a shortened state, the connecting element being equipped with a rod, said rod being partly made of a flexible material and being slightly arched, wherein the rod is further attached to the slider in a way which forms an angle between them and allows rotation of the angle between them.

7. The connecting element of claim 6, wherein the flexible material contains a slight angle.

8. The connecting element of claim 6, wherein the rod is further attached to the slider in a way which allows variation of the angle between them.

9. A connecting element in a chair wherein the chair comprises an adjustable back and a head rest, said heed rest having a first angle, in relation to the back of the chair, the connecting element being positioned between a section on the head rest and an attachment section on the chair, the connecting element is adjustable to affect said first angle and wherein said first angle may be adjusted into a second angle by altering the length of the connecting element, said connecting element including a guide and a slider which moves within the guide and may be locked in relation to the guide, wherein the guide and slider cooperate with a gravity influenced blocking element device to cause a locked connecting position for the connecting element in a shortened state, the connecting element being equipped with a rod, said rod being partly made of a flexible material and being slightly arched, the flexible material containing a slight angle, wherein the rod is further attached to the slider in a way which forms an angle between them and allows variation of the angle between them.