RECLINING STRUCTURE

Abstract: The reclining structure (1) has support members (2) and seat and back members. They are connected to one another freely with at least two kinds of members out of these support members, seat member and back member being joined together by a rod (11) of a lock (13). The rod is disposed so as to cross one of these two kinds of members. These two kinds of members are locked so as not to be moved with respect to each other with a force imparted only between the rod-crossed member and rod. In order to re-adjust the reclining structure, a user changes his posture on a chair or a bed so as to release the rod-crossed member and rod from the force imparted between and set the support members, seat member and back member, which constitute the reclining structure, freely movable. After the re-adjustment operation is finished, the user sits or lies on the seat member to cause the rod-crossed member and rod to be locked.

Description: This invention relates to reclining apparatus for supporting a human body according to the first part of claim 1. Such a reclining apparatus realized as a chair is known from GB-A-1,403,648. For locking the seat position an angular rod is fixed at a seat member which is slidable in a groove of a fixing element which is protatably mounted at a support member. However, these two parts can not get jammed because of the rotatably mounting of the fixing element. Therefore, the different seat positions are not fixed shurely enough especially if the rod takes a more vertical position. Moreover, the angular rod and the fixing element are relatively complicated mecanical parts which damage the appearance of the chair. High production costs are further disadvantages of this construction. The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and uncostly manufactured reclining apparatus which steplessly can be locked in a desirable reclining position. In order to achieve this object the lock member of the reclining apparatus according to the invention comprises at least one rod movingly mounted at one of said seat member, said back member and said support member and slidingly guided across in at least one aperture of another one of them, whereby said rod being unlocked and slidable in the aperture in response to a force applied to an upper portion of said back member. Further features of the invention are defined in claims 2 to 7. The advantage of this reclining apparatus according to the invention is a very simple construction which can be manufactured at reasonable costs. Nevertheless the adjustment or regulation comfort is high and the fixing is strong because the rod get jammed in a fixed groove of one of the seat member, the back member or the support member. When a force is applied only to the seat member, the lock member is locked to maintain the angle between the seat member and the back rest member. On the other hand, when a force is applied to both the seat member and the back rest member, the lock member is unlocked and moves to change the angle between the seat member and the back rest member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1A is a top view illustrating a reclining chair of a first embodiment according to the invention in the sitting position; Fig. 1B is a front view of the reclining chair of Fig. 1A; Fig. 1C is a right side view of the reclining chair of Fig. 1A; Fig. 2A is a top view of the reclining chair of the first embodiment in the reclining position; Fig. 2B is a front view of the reclining chair of Fig. 2A; Fig. 2C is a right side view of the reclining chair of Fig. 2A; Fig. 3A is an enlarged right side view illustrating the lock device of the first embodiment; Fig. 3B is a sectional view taken on line IIIB-IIIB of Fig. 3A; Fig. 4A is a sectional view taken on line IVA-IVA of Fig. 3B in the lock position of the lock device; Fig. 4B is a sectional view taken on line IVA-IVA of Fig. 3B in the unlock position of the lock device; Fig. 5 is a right side view illustrating a reclining chair of a second embodiment according to the invention in the sitting position; Fig. 6 is a right side view of the reclining chair of the second embodiment in the reclining position; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8A is a top view illustrating a reclinable bed of a third embodiment according to the invention in the lying position; Fig. 8B is a rear view of the reclinable bed of Fig. 8A; Fig. 8C is a right side view of the reclinable bed of Fig. 8A; Fig. 8D is a front view of the reclinable bed of Fig. 8A; Fig. 9 is a right side view of the reclinable bed of the third embodiment in the reclining position; Fig. 10A is a top view illustrating a reclining chair of a fourth embodiment according to the invention in the sitting position; Fig. 10B is a front view of the reclining chair of Fig. 10A; Fig. 10C is a right side view of the reclining chair of Fig. 10A; Fig. 11A is a top view of the reclining chair of the fourth embodiment in the reclining position; Fig. 11B is a front view of the reclining chair of Fig. 11A; Fig. 11C is a right side view of the reclining chair of Fig. 11A; and Fig. 12 is a front view illustrating the method for assembling the reclinable chair of the fourth embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First through fourth embodiments according to the invention are explained with the accompanying drawings. Figs. 1A through 1C and Figs. 2A through 2C illustrate a wooden reclining chair 1 of a first embodiment. A seat member 3 supporting the lumbar region of a seated person is pivotably connected to a T-shaped support member 2 by a shaft 4. A back rest member 5 supporting the back region and the seat member 3 are adjustably connected to each other by a shaft 6 slidably fitted in a long aperture 7 provided on the middle portion of the longitude of the back rest member 5. The bottom of the back rest member 5 and the support member 2 are adjustably connected to each other by a shaft 8 slidably fitted in a long aperture 9. A rod 11 formed as an integral part of an arm rest 10 is secured on one end by the shaft 8 and is inserted across the seat member 3. Figs. 3A and 3B and Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate a lock, device 13, wherein the rod 11 is fitted through a rod through hole 12 provided in the seat member 3. The action of the first embodiment is now described. In the reclining chair 1 thus constructed, the support member 2, the seat member 3 and the back rest member 5 are adjustably interconnected, and the rod 11 of the lock device 13 is connected to the support member 2 and the seat member 3. But the rod 11 may be connected to any two of the support member 2, the seat member 3 and the back rest member 5 or to all of the three. Fig. 4A shows the lock device in its lock position. Here the positions of the support member 2, the seat member 3 and the back rest member 5 are maintained. When a person is seated on the reclining chair 1 after setting the positions of the support member 2, the seat member 3 and the back rest member 5 as desired, the weight is applied onto the seat member 3 and a certain force is applied to between the seat member 3 and the rod 11 inserted across the seat member 3. The rod 11 is then firmly engaged in the rod through aperture 12 and the angle between the rod 11 and the seat member 3 is maintained. When a seated person stretches himself on the reclining chair 1, the force is applied to the positions A and B shown in Fig. 1C to release the lock between the seat member 3 and the rod 11. Fig. 4B shows the lock device in its unlock position. Here the rod 11 is slidably moved in the through hole 12 of the seat member 3, and the positions of the support member 2, the seat member 3 and the back rest member 5 can be re-adjusted. After the re-adjustment, the person is seated on the reclining chair 1 in the reclining position as shown in Figs. 2A through 2C. The weight is again applied onto the seat member 3 and a certain force is applied to between the seat member 3 and the rod 11 inserted across the seat member 3. The rod 11 is then firmly engaged in the rod through aperture 12 and the angle between the rod 11 and the seat member 3 is maintained as shown in Fig. 4A. The lock device 13 is not limited to the above construction but may have any other suitable constructions. For example, the rod 11 may be fitted in a groove provided on the seat member 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are right side views of a reclining chair 21 of a second embodiment. Vertically extending support members 22a and 22c are interconnected by a transversely extending support member 22b. The upper end of the support member 22a is adjustably connected to a seat member 23 by a shaft 24 slidably fitted in a long aperture 29 provided on the seat member 23. A rod 31 provided to support an arm rest 20 is pivotably connected to the seat member 23 and a back rest member 25 by a shaft 26 and is slidably fitted in the support member 22b. Fig. 7 shows a lock device 33, wherein the support member 22b is fitted in a groove provided on the rod 31. The back rest member 25 is bent upward at the middle portion thereof and a long aperture is provided above the bent. The support member 22c is adjustably connected to the back rest member 25 by a shaft 28 slidably fitted in the long aperture 27. The action of the second embodiment is now described. The lock device 33 is locked when the reclining chair 21 is in the sitting position as shown in Fig. 5 and the lock is released in the manner similar to the first embodiment. When the lock device 33 is unlocked, it moves leftward and the rod 31 thus moves leftward. The seat member 23 accordingly slides leftward and the back rest member 25 rotates clockwise to slide left-downward. Figs. 8A through 8D and Fig. 9 illustrate a reclinable bed 41 of a third embodiment. Each lower end of links 39 and 40 is rotatably connected to a support member 42 by each upper shaft 44, and each upper end of the links 39 and 40 is articulatingly connected to a seat member 43 by each lower shaft 44. The seat member 43 and the support member 42 are thus interconnected by the links 39 and 40. A back rest member 45 is articulatingly connected to the link 39 by the shaft 44 and the rear part of the back rest member 45 is supported by a roller 46 provided on one end of the support member 42. One end of a rod 51 is supported by the support member 42 via a roller 47 of the rod 51 and the other end thereof is inserted across the seat member 43. A lock device 53 is clearly seen in Figs. 8A though 8D, wherein the rod 51 is fitted in a through hole 52 for the rod 51 provided in the seat member 43. When a person lies on the back rest member 45 and the seat member 43, the weight works to lock the lock device 53 and the reclinable bed 41 is maintained in the lying position as shown in Figs. 8A through 8D. When a handle 54 provided on the lower portion of the rod 51 is pushed leftward of Fig. 8C, the roller 47 slides on the surface of the support member 42 and the seat member 43 rotates anticlockwise to move left-downward. The lock device 53 then moves downward, the links 39 and 40 rotate anticlockwise to move downward and the seat member 43 accordingly forms a V shape with the back rest member 45. The reclinable bed 41 is now in the reclining position as shown in Fig. 9. When the left end of the seat member 43 is pulled upward and the right end thereof is pulled rightward in the reclinable bed 41 of Fig. 9, the reclinable bed 41 returns to the lying position shown in Figs. 8A through 8D. Figs. 10A through 10C, Figs. 11A through 11C and Fig. 12 illustrate a reclining chair 61 of a fourth embodiment according to the invention. The main structure of the reclining chair 61 is similar to that of the chair 1 of the first embodiment; only the structure and the function different from those of the chair 1 are thus explained here. A second back rest member 75 is provided in parallel with a first back rest member 53 both to support the back region of a seated person. The lower portion of the second back rest member 75 is adjustably connected to a T-shaped support member 62 by a shaft 76 slidably fitted in a long aperture 69 provided on the support member 62. The middle portion of the second back rest member 75 is adjustably connected to the rear portion of a seat member 63 by a shaft 66 slidably fitted in a long aperture 67 provided on the first back rest member 55. The action of the fourth embodiment is now described. when a person is seated on the reclining chair 61 thus constructed, the weight is applied to the front end of the seat member 63 and the second back rest member 75. Here the seat member 63 and a rod 71 inserted across the seat member 63 are locked. The weight applied to the second back rest member 75 gives no effect on the rod 71 and thus both the back rest members 55 and 75 maintain their angles. When a seated person half lifts the lumbar region from the rear portion of the seat member 63 and stretches himself on the reclining chair 61, a backward force is applied to the first back rest member 55 supporting the shoulders and the head of the seated person. Here the seat member 63 and the rod 71 are unlocked, and the first and second back rest members 55 and 75 accordingly move backward to attain desirable reclining angle and position. After the adjustment, when the person is seated on the reclining chair 61 in the reclining position shown in Figs. 11A through 11C, the weight is again applied to only the seat member 63 and the second back rest member 75, and the seat member 63 and the rod 71 are re-locked. When a seated person places the hand on an arm rest 60 and half lifts the back and lumbar regions from both the back rest members 55 and 75 and the seat member 63, the lock between the seat member 63 and the rod 71 is released and both the back rest members 55 and 75 return to their sitting positions. As mentioned above, any complicated controls for reclining such as manual controls are not required to change the sitting position on the reclining chair 61. The reclining chair is in the normalposition when a person is seated. When the seated person stretches himself for reclining, the reclining chair is automatically changed to be in the reclining position. Additionally, the reclining chair 61 is easily constructed and manufactured at a reasonable cost. When a person is seated on the reclining chair thus constructed, the weight is applied to the seat member and the second back rest member. Here the seat member and a rod are locked. The weight applied to the second back rest member gives no effect on the rod and thus both the back rest members maintain their angles. When a seated person half lifts the lumbar region from the rear portion of the seat member and stretches himself on the reclining chair, a backward force is applied to the first back rest member supporting the shoulders and the head of the seated person. Here the seat member and the rod are unlocked, and the first and second back rest members and accordingly move backward to attain desirable reclining angle and position. After the adjustment, when the person is seated on the reclining chair in the reclining position, the weight is again applied to only the seat member and the second back rest member, and the seat member and the rod are re-locked. When a seated person places the hand on an arm rest and half lifts the back and lumbar regions from both the back rest members and the seat member, the lock between the seat member and the rod is released and both the back rest members and return to their sitting positions. As mentioned above, any complicated controls for reclining such as manual controls are not required to change the sitting position on the reclining chair 61. The reclining chair is in the normal position when a person is seated. When the seated person stretches himself for reclining, the reclining chair is automatically changed to be in the reclining position. Additionally, the reclining chair 61 is easily constructed and manufactured at a reasonable cost. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY In the reclining apparatus of the invention, the support member, the seat member and the back rest member are adjustably interconnected and the rod of the lock device is mounted on one of the support member, the seat member and the back rest member and fitted across another one of them. When a force is applied between the rod and the member through which the rod is fitted, all the positions of the above members are maintained. When a person changes the posture, e.g., stretches himself, on the reclining chair or the reclinable bed, the lock between the rod and the member through which the rod is fitted is released and the positions of the support member, the seat member and the back rest member are re-adjusted. After the re-adjustment, when the person seats or lies on the chair or the bed, the rod is again firmly engaged with the member. The reclining apparatus according to the invention is easily locked in a desirable position and also easily unlocked only by using the rod functioning as the lock device together with the support member, the seat member or the back rest member. The reclining apparatus of the invention is manufactured at a reasonable cost and is also attached to a wooden chair or bed without damaging its appearance. The apparatus maintains the furniture in a desirable reclining position.

Claims: Reclining apparatus for supporting a human body, said reclining apparatus comprising: a seat member (3; 23; 43; 63) for supporting a lumbar portion of the human body; a back member (5; 25; 45; 55, 75) for supporting a back portion of the human body; a support member (2; 22a, 22b, 22c; 42; 62) for supporting said seat member and said back member; means (4; 24, 29; 39, 40; 64) for movingly connecting said seat member to said support member; means (8, 9; 27, 28; 46; 68, 69) for movingly connecting said back member to said support member; means (6, 7; 26; 44; 66, 67) for movingly connecting said seat member to said back member; and means (13; 33; 53; 73) for releasably locking said seat member, said back member and said support member against relative movement; said means for releasably locking comprising a slide connection between a lock member and one of said seat member, said back member and said support member, said slide connection being frictionally locked in response to a force applied to said seat member (3; 23; 43; 63), characterized in that the lock member comprises at least one rod (11; 31; 51; 71) movingly mounted at one of said seat member, said back member and said support member and slidingly guided across in at least one aperture (12; 32; 52; 72) of another one of them, whereby said rod (11; 31; 51; 71) being unlocked and slidable in the aperture (12; 32; 52; 72) in response to a force applied to an upper portion of said back member (5; 25; 45; 55, 75). Reclining apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (11; 71) is guided in the seat member (3; 63), the rod (11; 71) and the back member (5; 55) are connected to each other by a shaft (8; 68) which slides in a long aperture (9; 69) provided in the support member (2; 62), and the back member (5; 55) and the rear end of the seat member (3; 63) are connected to each other by a shaft (6; 66) which slides in a long aperture (7; 67) provided in the back member (5; 55). Reclining apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a second back member (75) which is provided in parallel with the other back member (55), is adjustably connected to the support member (62) by a shaft (76) slidably fitted in the long aperture (69) of the support member (62) and is connected to both the seat member (63) and the other back member (55) by the shaft (66). Reclining apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod (31) is guided in the support member (22b), the rod (31), the seat member (23) and the back member (25) are interconnected by a shaft (26); and the seat member (23) and the back member (25) are respectively connected to the support member (22a, 22b, 22c) by a first shaft (24) which slides in a long aperture (29) provided in the seat member (23) and by a second shaft (28) which slides in a long aperture (27) provided the back member (25). Reclining apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rod (11; 31; 71) has an arm rest (10; 20; 60) on the top edge thereof. Reclining apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower ends of two links (39, 40) are rotatably connected to the support member (42) and the upper ends of these links (39, 40) to both the seat member (43) and the back member (45); and the rod (51) is supported by the support member (42) and guided in the seat member (43). Reclining apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that one end of the rod (51) is connected to a roller (47) sliding on the surface of the support member (42); and another roller (46) is provided on one end of the support member (42) to support the back member (45), which is rotatably connected to the seat member (43).

Inventors: TADA HIROFUMI, TADA, HIROFUMI
Applicants: TADA HIROFUMI, TADA, HIROFUMI
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A47C1
IPC codes: A47C1