Patent ID: 6206472
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
A two position reclinable chair comprising:a seat member having a front end and a rear end;a back member attached to said rear end of said seat member and extending upwardly therefrom;a plurality of legs for supporting said seat member and said back member;said plurality of legs comprising:two front legs disposed to support said front end of said seat member;two back legs disposed to support said rear end of said seat member; andtwo center legs disposed between said two front legs and said two back legs;said chair having a stable upright position, a stable reclined position, and an unstable position therebetween;said two front legs and said two center legs being configured to contact a surface upon which the chair rests upon the chair being in said upright position;said two center legs and said two back legs being configured to contact a surface upon which the chair rests upon the chair being in said reclined position;said center legs being configured and disposed to provide a first pivot area to permit a chair user of the chair to shift his or her weight in a direction toward said back member, and thus to pivot said chair from said upright position to said reclined position;said center legs being configured and disposed to provide a second pivot area to permit the chair user to shift his or her weight in a direction toward said front end of said seat member, and thus to pivot said chair from said reclined position to said upright position;wherein said two center legs each comprise a first end and a second end disposed opposite to one another and a central area disposed therebetween;said first end being configured to contact the surface upon which the chair sits;said second end comprises a portion configured to support the head of a chair user of the chair;said central area comprising a portion configured and disposed to provide support to the back of a chair user of said chair;each of said first ends comprise a first substantially flat surface, and a second substantially flat surface;said first surface and said second surface being disposed to form an obtuse angle therebetween;said first surface being disposed to contact the surface upon which said chair rests upon said chair being in said upright position, and at least a portion of said second surface being disposed to contact the surface upon which the chair rests upon said chair being in the reclined position;at least a portion of said first surface forming said first pivot area and at least a portion of said second surface forming said second pivot area;said back legs each comprise an end portion and a front portion and a center portion disposed therebetween;said front portion comprises a seat area;said center portion being attached to said central area of a corresponding one of said center legs;said center legs and said back legs being disposed substantially transverse to one another;each of said end portions of said back legs comprise a surface area to contact the surface upon which the chair rests upon said chair being in said reclined position;said back leg surface area and said second surface of said center leg are substantially aligned with one another to thus provide in combination a stable resting surface for said chair in said reclined position;said two front legs each comprise a first end portion and a second end portion disposed opposite to one another, and a central portion disposed therebetween;said second end portion of each of said two front legs being configured and disposed to contact the surface upon which the chair rests upon the chair being in the upright position;said front portions of said back legs each comprising a front end portion;each of said central portions of said two front legs being connected to a corresponding one of said front end portions of said back legs;said front legs being disposed substantially transverse to said back legs, wherein said front legs and said front portion of said back legs form an obtuse angle with one another in a downward direction and an acute angle with one another in an upward direction to minimize instability of said chair in the upright position;said second substantially flat surfaces of said first ends of said center legs have a slightly convex shape;said chair comprises two arm members;said two arm members are disposed substantially parallel to said back legs;said two arm members each have a first end and a second end disposed opposite to one another;each of said first ends of said arm members being attached to a corresponding one of said back supporting portions of said two center legs;each of said second ends of said arm members being attached to a corresponding one of said first end portions of said two front legs;said front legs each comprise a front surface facing away from said center legs and a back surface facing toward said center legs;each of said arm members forming an obtuse angle with a corresponding one of said back surfaces of said two front legs; andsaid central area of said two center legs being disposed to lean in a backward direction to thus form an obtuse angle with said front portions of each of said back legs and an acute angle with said end portion of each of said back legs.