Recliner apparatus
First Claim
1. Recliner apparatus for use with a chair having a bottom and a back articulately mounted relative to said bottom, said apparatus comprising a housing having openings at generally opposite locations, a shaft rotatably received in said housing and having first and second portions which are oppositely threaded, first and second elements operatively connected to said housing, respectively at least one of said elements extending outwardly from one of said openings, and engaging said housing in a rotation-preventing manner, and said elements being relatively moveable toward and away from one another and said first and second elements being oppositely threaded and respectively engaging said oppositely threaded first and second shaft portions, one of said elements being adapted to be operatively connected to said chair bottom and the other said element being adapted to be operatively connected to said chair back, and drive means operatively connected to said shaft to rotate the shaft, thereby to cause said elements to move relatively toward and away from one another as said shaft is rotated in one direction or the other opposite direction to cause said chair back to articulate relative to said chair bottom.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for adjusting the spatial relationship between the bottom and the bade of a chair which may be subjected to seven mechanical stress, as in the case of a vehicle crash, the seat and the back being operatively connected respectively to two oppositely threaded portions of a rotatable shaft which is adapted to be routed in one direction or the other to produce the desired change in spatial relationship, the arrangement providing the combination of exceptional strength in the event of a crash and reduced cost. The operative connection between the chair parts and the shaft includes two non-rotatable parts engaged respectively with the oppositely threaded shaft portions so as to move in and out with respect to the shaft as the latter is rotated, and a housing which permits those parts to thus move while preventing their motion.
34 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. Recliner apparatus for use with a chair having a bottom and a back articulately mounted relative to said bottom, said apparatus comprising a housing having openings at generally opposite locations, a shaft rotatably received in said housing and having first and second portions which are oppositely threaded, first and second elements operatively connected to said housing, respectively at least one of said elements extending outwardly from one of said openings, and engaging said housing in a rotation-preventing manner, and said elements being relatively moveable toward and away from one another and said first and second elements being oppositely threaded and respectively engaging said oppositely threaded first and second shaft portions, one of said elements being adapted to be operatively connected to said chair bottom and the other said element being adapted to be operatively connected to said chair back, and drive means operatively connected to said shaft to rotate the shaft, thereby to cause said elements to move relatively toward and away from one another as said shaft is rotated in one direction or the other opposite direction to cause said chair back to articulate relative to said chair bottom.
Specification