Abstract:
An armchair comprising a seat chassis supported on a support chassis by a pair of support columns, a chair back structure pivotally attached to a rear end of the seat chassis and to the support chassis, and a leg support structure pivotally attached to a front end of the seat chassis and connected to a beam, wherein the beam is attached the chair back structure. A first actuating device is mounted to the chair back, where a protracting end of the first actuating device is connected to the seat chassis. The armchair further comprises a second actuating device mounted to the support chassis, a footrest connected to a protracting end of the second actuating device, a third actuating device attached to the seat chassis, and a seating structure connected to a protracting end of the third actuating device and mounted above the seat chassis, wherein the seating structure includes an operative position projecting upwards and forwards by the third actuating device at a tilting angle from the seat chassis.

Description:
COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0001]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The invention described herein generally relates to an armchair, and in particular, an armchair having a mechanism to help a user out of the armchair and a locking footrest for preventing the user from sliding down. 
       Description of the Related Art 
       [0003]    Typical armchairs comprise a back rest, a seat and a footrest. A well-known type of reclining armchair has a footrest that extends forward. The problem with such reclining armchairs is the effort needed to move out of these upright and fully reclined positions. Elderly and handicapped people may not be able to emerge from these armchairs without additional assistance. 
         [0004]    Many people are not able to maintain a stable and comfortable seated position either due to muscle weakness, joint pain, muscle spasm, loss of balance, pressure sores or joint stiffness. Any of these may result in the person sliding forwards in the chair, leaning over the arm of the chair, falling forwards in the chair or generally being uncomfortable. Additionally, existing armchairs do not prevent users from sliding down the seat when in a reclined position. 
         [0005]    Being unable to maintain a stable sitting position, because of any of the reasons mentioned above, can be extremely tiring. A good deal of effort is expended when people have to stop themselves from sliding in the seat or falling forwards. There is thus a need to provide an armchair that is both comfortable and able to prevent a user from sliding down the armchair and assist the user to rise from the armchair in both the upright or fully reclined position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides an armchair comprising a seat chassis supported on a support chassis by a pair of support columns, a chair back structure pivotally attached to a rear end of the seat chassis and to the support chassis, and a leg support structure pivotally attached to a front end of the seat chassis and connected to a beam, wherein the beam is attached the chair back structure. A first actuating device is mounted to the chair back, where a protracting end of the first actuating device is connected to the seat chassis. The armchair further comprises a second actuating device mounted to the support chassis, a footrest connected to a protracting end of the second actuating device, a third actuating device attached to the seat chassis, and a seating structure connected to a protracting end of the third actuating device and mounted above the seat chassis, wherein the seating structure includes an operative position projecting upwards and forwards by the third actuating device at a tilting angle from the seat chassis. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment, the armchair further includes a reclining position that reclines the seat chassis, reclines the chair back structure, and raising the leg support structure. In a further embodiment, the reclining position further includes extension of the footrest from a recessed location under the seat chassis. The footrest may further lock in place at a specific position to secure a user in the armchair. The armchair may further comprise a slider attached to the chair back structure. The first actuating device, the second actuating device, and the third actuating device may include hydraulics, pneumatic lifts and electric linear actuators. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an armchair frame in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates side view of the armchair frame in the upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the armchair frame in a lifted seat upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates side view of the armchair frame in the lifted seat upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the armchair frame in a reclined position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates side view of the armchair frame in the reclined position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an armchair in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of the armchair in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates a left view of the armchair in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates a right view of the armchair in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates a front view of the armchair in an upright position according to an embedment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of the armchair in a reclined position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates exemplary depictions of sensors in the armchair according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of the armchair in a lifted seat upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  illustrates a side view of the right view of the armchair in the lifted seat upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  illustrates a perspective view of an armchair frame in a lifted seat upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  illustrates a side view of the armchair frame in the lifted seat upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  illustrates a perspective view of the armchair frame in a reclined position according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  illustrates side view of the armchair frame in the reclined position according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any example embodiments set forth herein; example embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense. 
         [0029]    Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of exemplary embodiments in whole or in part. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an armchair frame in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Any of the components of the armchair frame described herein may be constructed from metal, wood, plastic, or a combination thereof, and secured together by screws, bolts, nuts, rivets, or any other suitable fasteners. Armchair frame  100  comprises a chair back structure  102 , a footrest  104 , a seating structure  106 , a seat chassis  108 , a leg support structure  110 , and a support chassis  112 , incorporating a backrest section, a seat section, a leg support section, and a footrest section in an adjustable structural relationship to one another. Seating structure  106  is mounted above seat chassis  108 . A first end of seating structure  106  towards the chair back structure  102  is connected to two pairs of links  114  that are attached to a middle region of seat chassis  108 . A second end of seating structure  106  is hinged to seat chassis  108  at a region of seat chassis  108  adjacent to the leg support structure  110 . Leg support structure is pivotally attached to the front end of seat chassis  108 . Seat chassis  108  is supported on support chassis  112  by support column  132  on each of left and right sides of armchair frame  100 . The seat chassis  108  is further pivotally attached to chair back structure  102 . Chair back structure  102  is also pivotally attached to support chassis  112 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  provides a side view of the armchair frame in the upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Seat actuator  202  is secured to seat chassis  108  by a bracket  130 . Actuators as described herein may include devices such as hydraulics, pneumatic lifts or electric linear actuators. One or more of the actuators may be powered by a battery or AC/DC power source and electronically controlled by a switch, remote or button. The bracket  130  is attached to seat chassis  108  perpendicularly (or substantially perpendicular). A lift end of seat actuator  202  is attached to seating structure  106  via attachment  126 . Seat actuator  202  is retracted when seating structure  108  is in an upright seated position. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of the armchair frame in a lifted seat upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Seat actuator  202  can be controlled by the user, to protract and detract. Protraction of seat actuator  202  pushes up and pivots seating structure  106  forward upon the seat chassis  108  at the edge of the seat (adjacent to the top of leg support structure  110 ) to assist a user to get up from an armchair including armchair frame  100 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  provides a side view of the armchair frame in the lifted seat upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Seat actuator  202  is installed on bracket  130  at an angle relative to the perpendicular plane of the seat chassis  108  such that upon protraction of the seat actuator  202  pushes up on seating structure  106  to project seating structure  106  at an upward and forward tilt. Seat chassis  108  may be elevated to at least  12  cm from the center of the seat, while changing the angle from, for example, minus five degrees to plus five degrees relative to the seat chassis  108  in the upright position. The seating structure  106  may then be controlled to return downward into sitting position upon retraction of seat actuator  202 . Seat actuator  202  may be retracted and protracted by a control panel. According to one embodiment, a sensor may be embedded in seating structure  106  to react to a user&#39;s pressure or weight on the seat, and activate seat actuator  202  to retract automatically. 
         [0034]    Recliner actuator  204  is mounted to chair back structure  102  and connected to seat chassis  108  for protraction to support seat chassis  108  in upright position. Armchair frame  100  may also be configured in a reclining position as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Reclining can produce three different movements simultaneously including reclining of the seat chassis  108  backwards, reclining of the chair back structure  102 , and raising the leg support structure  110 . These movements can be operated with the actuators which can be controlled by the user. For example, one press on a button can produce whole full movements for two directions—reclined and upright. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  provides a side view of the armchair frame in the reclined position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Upon reclining, recliner actuator  204  may retract to cause on each left and right sides, slider  120  connected to chair back structure  102  to slide upwards in slot  122 , and allows seat chassis  108  to pivot on support column  132 . Slider  120  may include a wheel to allow for rolling in slot  122 . Chair back structure  102  is further attached to beam  116  on each left and right sides of the armchair frame  100 . Beam  116  is connected to leg support structure  110 . Reclining of chair back structure  102  pulls seat chassis  108  backwards and draw top of leg support structure  110  backwards while beam  116  pushes the bottom of leg support structure  110  causing leg support structure  110  to tilt upwards. 
         [0036]    Footrest  104  may also be extended from its recessed location under seat chassis  108  in the reclined position in conjunction with the leg support structure  110  rising. According to one embodiment, movement of footrest  104  is dependent on the armchair&#39;s position. In reclined position, the footrest  104  may unfold itself from inside the armchair frame  100 , and rise under the user&#39;s feet. Footrest actuator  206  is mounted to support chassis  112  and connected to support rod  128 . The footrest actuator  206  may push the support rod  128  which is further connected to footrest arm  118  on both left and right sides. Footrest arm  118  on each of the left and right sides are also connected to links  124 , and links  124  are connected to beam  116 . 
         [0037]    According to one embodiment, footrest  104  moves in conjunction with the chair back structure  102  to keep a person such as an elderly person from slipping down in their seat. Footrest  104  may be configured to lock in place at a specific position that helps secure users in place in the chair so they don&#39;t slide down. The footrest  104  may further include a lip and/or friction surface to keep a user&#39;s feet on the footrest  104 . Footrest  104  may extend out to various lengths. Extension of footrest  104  may stop either automatically when it touches the feet (e.g., via a sensor), controlled by the user, or when it reaches the end of its movement range. Alternatively, footrest  104  may be extended to preconfigured lengths for short and tall persons. When the user operates the armchair frame  100  from its reclined position back to its upright position, the footrest  104  may automatically fold itself back into its recessed location under seat chassis  108 . 
         [0038]    It should be noted that illustrated components of the armchair frame  100  including, but not limited to, support chassis  112 , links  114 , beam  116 , footrest arm  118 , slider  120 , slot  122 , links  124 , and support column  132 , are substantially identical on both left and right sides of armchair frame  100 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  provides a perspective view of an armchair in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Armchair  700  is inclusive of the armchair frame  100  as previously illustrated in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 6 . For example, the armchair  700  may provide, in various components, cushions and trim covering the armchair frame  100 . Cushions may be comprised of plastic, faux, or leather coverings including cotton or foam padding. Trim may include plastic, wood, or any other suitable material. Armchair  700  comprises chair back  702 , armrest  708 , armrest  710 , seat  722 , leg support  716 , and footrest  724 . Chair back  702  includes headrest section  704  and back section  706 . Armrest  708  and armrest  710  includes a finger grip recess  712  and finger grip recess  714  respectively. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  provides a top view of the armchair. As illustrated, armrest  708  may also include holder  718  for placing a cup, mobile phone, or appliance remote. Armrest  710  may include a control panel  726  including buttons for controlling operations of the chair such as reclining, raising seat  722 , or extending the footrest  724 . Armrest  710  may further include a slot  720  for insertion of an accessory such as a tray or table. One of armrest  708  and  710 , or holder  718  and control panel  726  may also include an outlet, port, or device charging station. It is noted that armrest  708  and armrest  710  may include other features and feature configurations that are not depicted in the figures.  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 11  provide additional views of the left, right, and front side views of the armchair  700 , respectively. 
         [0041]    Chair back  702  may contain chairback structure  102  while leg support  716  may contain leg support structure  110 . The armchair  700  may be further configured to a reclining position where chair back  702  may be reclined backwards along with rising the leg support  716 . Footrest  724  may also be extended from a recess below leg support  716 .  FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective view of the armchair in a reclined position according to an embodiment of the present invention. Chair back  702  can be reclined backwards while leg support  716  is tilted outwards along with footrest  724  simultaneously extending a predetermined length to prevent a user from slipping down the chair. 
         [0042]      FIG. 13  provides exemplary depictions of sensors in the armchair according to an embodiment of the present invention. Seat  722  may be configured on seating structure  106  where seat  722  may be controlled by a user to lift and tilt forward to assist a user in getting up from or sitting down in armchair  700 . A seat sensor  1302  may be embedded in the seat  722  to detect a user&#39;s weight on the chair (e.g., embedded in the cushioning of seat  722 ). According to one embodiment, a button to control seat  722  by seat actuator  202  may be activated in control panel  726  to elevate and tilt forward (as illustrated in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 ). The button to control seat  722  may be held or long-pressed to a desired height and tilt. Alternatively, the button to control seat  722  may be pressed once to raise and tilt seat  722  to a preconfigured height and tilt. 
         [0043]    The user may lean on seat  722  to sit down and seat sensor  1302  may react to the pressure of the user&#39;s weight, and move back down to a sitting position (lowered and tilted backwards). When the user desires to get up, the button to control seat  722  may be pressed to raise and tilt the seat  722  forward. Upon leaving the seat  722 , seat sensor  1302  is configurable to detect that no weight is on the seat  722 , and after a period of time (e.g., several minutes, in a range of 1-2 minutes, or 90 seconds), seat actuator  202  may be controlled to automatically return to the sitting position. 
         [0044]    A footrest sensor  1304  may be embedded in footrest  724 . Footrest sensor  1304  may be used to adjust to different sizes of legs. When a user adjusts to chair to a reclining position, footrest actuator  206  raises footrest  724  automatically and simultaneously from underneath the chair  700 . When the user&#39;s feet touches the footrest  724 , footrest sensor  1304  detects the weight of the feet and stops footrest actuator  206  from rising footrest  724  any higher. The user may press a button to control footrest  724  in the control panel  726  to continue rising or lowering the footrest  724  as desired by the user. 
         [0045]    It is noted that the particular shape and configuration of the outer portion of the armchair  700  covering the armchair frame  100  with respect to the description of  FIG. 7  through  FIG. 15 , including the cushions, trim, chairback  702 , armrests  708  and  710 , etc., are merely exemplary and can be varied. 
         [0046]    Armchair  700  may alternatively include the armchair frame illustrated in  FIG. 16-19 .  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17  present a frame of the armchair in a lifted seat upright position according to another embodiment. Armchair frame  1000  comprises a chair back structure  1002 , a footrest rail  1004 , a seating structure  1006 , a seat chassis  1008 , a leg support structure  1010 , and a support chassis  1012 , incorporating a backrest section, a seat section, a leg support section, and a footrest section in an adjustable structural relationship to one another. Seating structure  1006  is mounted above seat chassis  1008 . A plate  1034  is installed on the surface of seating structure  1006 . Plate  1034  and surface  1036  may provide a barrier between a seat cushion and the seating structure  1006 . 
         [0047]    A first end of seating structure  1006  towards the chair back structure  1002  is connected to two pairs of links  1014  that are attached to a front region of seat chassis  1008 . A second end of seating structure  1006  is hinged to seat chassis  1008  at a region of seat chassis  1008  adjacent to the leg support structure  1010 . Leg support structure is pivotally attached to the front end of seat chassis  1008 . Seat chassis  1008  is supported on support chassis  1012  by support column  1032  on each of left and right sides of armchair frame  1000 . The seat chassis  1008  is further pivotally attached to chair back structure  1002 . Chair back structure  1002  is also pivotally attached to support chassis  1012 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 17  provides a side view of the frame of armchair frame in the upright position. Seat actuator  2002  is secured to seat chassis  1008  by a bracket  1030 . The bracket  1030  is attached to seat chassis  1008  perpendicularly (or substantially perpendicular). Plate  1034  includes an aperture for attachment  1026 . A lift end of seat actuator  2002  is attached to seating structure  1006  via the attachment  1026 . Seat actuator  2002  is retracted when seating structure  1008  is in an upright seated position. The seat actuator  2002  is installed on bracket  1030  at an angle relative to the perpendicular plane of the seat chassis  1008  such that upon protraction of the seat actuator  2002  pushes up on seating structure  1006  to project seating structure  1006  at an upward and forward tilt. Seat chassis  1008  may be elevated to at least 12 cm from the center of the seat while changing the angle relative to the seat chassis  1008  in the upright position. The seating structure  1006  is controllable to return downward and backwards into sitting position by retracting seat actuator  2002 . Seat actuator  2002  may be retracted and protracted by a control panel. According to one embodiment, a sensor may be embedded in seating structure  1006  to react to a user&#39;s pressure or weight on the seat, and activate seat actuator  2002  to retract automatically. In another embodiment, the sensor may be placed on plate  1034  or between plate  1034  and surface  1036 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19  present armchair frame  1000  in a reclined position. Recliner actuator  2004  is mounted to chair back structure  1002  and connected to seat chassis  1008  for protraction to support seat chassis  1008  in upright position. Armchair frame  1000  may also be configured in a reclining position as illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . Upon reclining, recliner actuator  2004  may retract to cause on each left and right sides, slider  1020  connected to chair back structure  1002  to slide upwards in slot  1022 , and allows seat chassis  1008  to pivot on support column  1032 . Slider  1020  may include a wheel to allow for rolling in slot  1022 . Chair back structure  1002  is further attached to beam  1016  on each left and right sides of the armchair frame  1000 . Beam  1016  is connected to leg support structure  1010 . Reclining of chair back structure  1002  pulls seat chassis  1008  backwards and draw top of leg support structure  1010  backwards while beam  1016  pushes the bottom of leg support structure  1010  causing leg support structure  1010  to tilt upwards. 
         [0050]    Footrest  1004  may also be extended from its recessed location under seat chassis  1008  in the reclined position in conjunction with the leg support structure  1010  rising. In reclined position, the footrest  1004  may unfold itself from inside the armchair frame  1000 , and rise under the user&#39;s feet. Footrest actuator  2006  is mounted to support chassis  1012  and connected to support rod  1028 . The footrest actuator  2006  may push the support rod  1028  which is further connected to footrest arm  1018  on both left and right sides. Footrest arm  1018  on each of the left and right sides are also connected to links  1024 , and links  1024  are connected to beam  1016 . Components of the armchair frame  1000  including, but not limited to support chassis  1012 , links  1014 , beam  1016 , footrest arm  1018 , slider  1020 , slot  1022 , links  1024 , and support column  1032 , are substantially identical on both left and right sides of armchair frame  1000 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 1 through 19  are conceptual illustrations allowing for an explanation of the present invention. Notably, the figures and examples above are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to a single embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements. Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present invention are described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted so as not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not necessarily be limited to other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration. 
         [0052]    The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the relevant art(s) (including the contents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference herein), readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Such adaptations and modifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. 
         [0053]    It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with the knowledge of one skilled in the relevant art(s).