ARRANGEMENT IN A FURNITURE MEMBER, ESPECIALLY A LEG SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR A CHAIR

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement in a calf-supporting part (5) for a chair (1) comprising a chair seat part (4) anda back part (3), the calf-supporting part (5) comprising a web-shaped portion (5) supported by means of moveable supporting/carrying devices (6) and moving in a loop (4b) through one or several curved guides (22) which are attached to the supporting/carrying devices (6) so that the web-shaped portion (5) may be pushed continuously between a shielded, inactive retracted position beneath the chair seat part (4) and an active protruding calf-supporting position chiefly flush with the chair seat part, and for the purpose of acquiring a calf-supporting part which comprises uncomplicated parts and is adjustable in a readily controllable but effortless manner it has been suggested according to the invention that the supporting/carrying devices should comprise a single slim sheet-shaped device (6), being separated physically from the web-shaped portion (2). This entails that the web-shaped portion may be made up of a chiefly separate cover-material, i.e. of a material, man-made or cloth-like structure, constituting the same cover material or readily adaptable to the cover material of the chair seat part (4).

Description: ARRANGEMENT IN A FURNITURE MEMBER, ESPECIALLY A LEG SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR A CHAIR The area of the Invention The present invention relates to an arrangement in a calf- supporting part for a piece of furniture or such like, particularly a chair, comprising a chair seat part and a back rest part, the calf-supporting part comprising a web-shaped portion which is given support by means of moveable support- ing/carrying devices and runs in a loop through one or several curved guides attached to the supporting/carrying devices, so that the web-shaped portion may be pushed continuously between a shielded, inactive retracted position beneath the chair seat portion and an active protruding calf-supporting position, chiefly flush with the chair seat part. Prior Art From NO patent specification 162.994 a chair arrangement is known of the nature stated above, a calf-supporting part having been made of an upholstered web-shaped portion, stiffened in its traverse direction, the said web-shaped portion consisting of a base of traversing stays, comparative¬ ly rigid in their lengthwise direction and sideways interlink- ing. Above the said stays, upholstery is arranged, and also a web-shaped cover material, preferably a cover material matching the cover of the chair as such. The background to the present invention is in the task of showing an improved arrangement in a calf-supporting part in which there is no need to rely on linked rigid stays for stiffening the upholstered web-shaped portion, such interlink¬ ing, rigid stays being complicated and costly to make while at the same time the rigidity of the stays causes the rolling function to be slow-moving. A further task of the present invention is in describing an arrangement which not only avoids the use of interlinking rigid stays but may also be manufactured from uncomplicated components, while at the same time the transition of the calf-support from its passive to its active position and vice versa may be performed with the use of comparatively little effort. Description of the Invention The aims outlined above will be achieved with an arrange¬ ment of the nature mentioned initially, which is, according to the present invention characterised by the supporting / carrying devices comprising one single slim sheet-shaped device segregated physically from the web-shaped portion. Because this physical segregation is achieved between the actual supporting / carrying devices and the we -shaped portion, the web-shaped portion may chiefly in itself com- prise a separate cover material, i.e. a material or man- made or cloth-like structure constituting the same cover material or readily adaptable to the cover material of the piece of furniture, specifically the chair seat. Preferably, the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device is at either side of its rear part fitted with a smooth wheel and a toothed wheel. Preferably then each of the toothed wheels on the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device will interact with a corresponding toothed track or toothed guide each arranged in a groove positioned at the side and fastened to the underside of the chair seat or to other parts of the chair or the piece of furniture. At its forward part, the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device may then have been made with a guide designed as a smooth sliding roller, which runs . raversely and can be turned freely. At the rear area of the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device a transverse turning axle is arranged, carrying ateither end one each of the said toothed wheels, in order thereby to turn in step with these while at the same time at least one band-like guiding device has been wound round the said turning axle. The said band-like guiding device is at its one end fixed permanently to a frame part, chiefly arranged at a lower forward part of the chair seat part, in which area also one stationary traversing edge of the web-shaped portion has been attached, the band-like guiding device at its other end being fixed to the opposite moveable traversing edge of the web-shaped portion. From a retracted passive position below or behind the rele¬ vant part of the chair, in particular the chair seat part, the calf-supporting part may thereby be pushed forward, namely by the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device being pushed forward, e.g. by means of a handle arranged at the forward smooth sliding roller. This sliding roller will then, being in contact with the underside of the web-shaped portion, push the said web-shaped portion ahead while at , the same time the proportions of the web-shaped portion pushed out will make contact with the slim sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device. The movable traverse edge of the web-shaped portion is held taughtly in place below the sheet-shaped supporting / carrying device by means of the said band-like guiding device both when being parked underneath the chair seat part, while the supporting/carrying device is being pushed out, and even when in particular the calf-support is fully extended in its calf-supporting position. It should be understood that the present invention has been developed especially in connection with a calf-supporting part for a chair, but the present supporting/carrying device may also find a use in connection with chair backs to possibly adjust the height and the shape of the chair back, and in particular together with an adjustable calf- support. Such an adjustment of both back and seat will en¬ tail that the chair may be adapted to the body size of individual users, and their purpose of use, which could be appropriate for chairs in the home, on trains, in aircraft, as well as in other means of transport and installations. It should further be understood that the present arrange- ment may also find a use in connection with furniture other than chairs, e.g. beds, which may have their width, length or resting area extended in a simple and energy-conserving manner. The device may e.g. be executed as an attachment to a sofa-bed, or as a sideflap to a hospital bed. Additional features and advantages will be seen from the description below, taken in conjuncture with the attached drawings. Brief Description of Figures in the Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic outline perspective of a calf-sup¬ porting part for a chair comprising a chair seat part and a back part, the calf-supporting part being shown here in its retracted position below the chair seat part. Figure 2 is a schematic outline perspective like figure 1, showing the calf-support in its protruding calf-supporting position in front of the chair seat part. Figure 3 is a schematic blown-up outline perspective of an embodiment of a supporting/carrying device according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a cut-out of an outline viewed from above of a corresponding embodiment for the supporting/carrying device according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a section along the line V-v of figure 4. Figure 6 is a supplementary cut-out of the outline shown in figure 4, showing an embodiment for a supporting/carrying device according to the invention. Figure 7 is a sideways outline of the embodiment for a sup¬ porting / carrying device shown in figures 4-6. Figure 8 is an outline viewed from above of an embodiment for a supporting / carrying device according to the inven- tion, fitted into grooves or profiles placed at the sides, the fully drawn line showing the supporting / carrying device when the calf-support is retracted, while the broken lines show the device in its protruding calf-supporting position. Figure 9 is an end-on outline of the embodiment shown in figure 8. Figure 10 is a sideways outline of the embodiment shown in figure 8, with some components shown when the supporting / carrying device is in its retracted and its protracted position, respectively. Figure 11 illustrates some components of the supporting / carrying device in its protruding position. Figure 12 shows schematically details of the embodiment in grooves or profiles of the supporting / carrying device according to the invention. Figure 13 is an outline, similar to figure 8, with further components of the calf-support included in the drawing. Figure 14 shows a sideways outline of the embodiment according to figure 10, here with an adapted cut-out of the chair seat part and the contacting web-shaped portion of the calf-supporting part in its retracted position. Figure 15 shows a corresponding sideways outline as figure 14 but with the calf-su ortin art and the web-sha ed portion in its protruding calf-supporting position. Detailed Description of Embodiments Shown in outline in figures 1 and 2 is a chair upper of a chair generally defined by the reference numeral 1. The chair 1 is covered in a web-shaped material 2, the said material covering a chair back part 3 and a chair seat part 4. The chair 1 also comprises a calf-supporting part defined here by the reference numeral 5 which may be pushed continuously between a shielded inactive retracted position underneath the chair seat part 4, as is evident from figure 1, and an active protruding calf-supporting position, chiefly flush with the chair seat part 4, as will be evident from figure 2. It should be understood that the chair l may also be executed with a corresponding back supporting part which may be pushed continuously up and down flush with the chair back part 3 of the chair. The calf-supporting part 5 comprises a main part which is chiefly in the form of a web-shaped portion running from its forward edge 4a of the chair seat part 4, in a loop 4b through suitable curved guides which will be mentioned later and are attached to suitable supporting/carrying devices also to be mentioned later. The web-shaped portion 5 is of a length corresponding approximately to the fully protracted calf-supporting part as is evident from figure 2, and thus stretches from a forward traversing edge 5a arranged by or incorporated in the forward portion 4a of the chair seat part 4, to a rear traversing edge 5b. Shown in figures 3-7 is a particular embodiment for the moveable supporting/carrying devices which support the web- shaped portion 5 mentioned above, and also comprising suitable guiding devices. Thus, the said supporting / carrying devices of the embodiment shown in figures 3-7 are executed as one single slim sheet-shaped device 6, capable, because of its expanse lengthwise and across, of supporting the web-shaped portion 5 shown in figures l and 2 without being an integrated part of the web-shaped portion. In other words, the sheet- shaped portion 6 may be fashioned physically separate from the said web-shaped portion 5 which entails a number of advantages which will be mentioned below. Firstly, the web-shaped portion, because of the sheet- shaped supporting/carrying device may be executed chiefly as a separate cover material, i.e. of a material, man-made or cloth-like structure which makes up the same cover material or is readily adaptable both to the cover material of the chair seat part 4 and the cover of the back part 3. The sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device 6 is as shown in figure 5 made with longitudinal ribs 7a and 7b, and at the rear portion 6a of the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device 6 a bracket 8a and 8b, respectively, is screwed into the said ribs, preferably by means of suitable screw and bolt connections 9. A portion of the said brackets, 8a, 8b, protrude over the rear portion 6a of the supporting / carrying device 6 in order there to carry a smooth wheel, 10a and 10b, respectively, and a toothed wheel, 11a and lib, respectively. Between the said toothed wheels, 11a and lib a traversing rotating axle extends which turns together with the said toothed wheels, while at the same time two guide reels, 13a and 13b, respectively, are arranged on the axle. These guide reels 13a and 13b may turn more or less freely on the said axle 12, but with a suitable small play, and the said guiding reels 13a and 13b serve to guide one each of the band-like guiding devices which will be mentioned in further detail below. At its forward portion 6b on the ribs 7a, 7b a guiding device is arranged, designed as a chiefly smooth sliding roller 14, freely rotatable and running transversely, suitably held by roller bearings 15 which are in turn suitably fixed by means of screws 15a, 15b. Shown in figures 8-12 is how the shee -shaped supporting / carrying device 6 mentioned above may be mounted into suitable guide rails or profiles which may be attached to the underside of the chair seat part 4, or some other suitable stationary part of the chair frame. Shown in the said figures are thus two sideways positioned grooves, 16a and 16b, respectively, the cut-out of these grooves 16a and 16b being shown to a larger scale in figure 12. As will be seen from the latter figure 12, in each of the grooves a toothed track or toothed guide 17 has been arranged in which the said toothed wheels 11a, lib engage while at the same time the pertaining smooth wheel, 10a and 10b, respectively will make contact with a groove portion 19 which is opposite to the groove portion 20 carrying the respective toothed tracks or guides 17. Shown in figure 8 is an outline viewed from above of the previously mentioned supporting/carrying device 6 when mounted into the sideways positioned grooves 16a, 16b, the fully drawn line showing the supporting/carrying device 6 with the calf-support retracted, while the broken line shows how the supporting/carrying device 6 1 with its forward smooth sliding roller 14 ' and its traversing axle 12' with its toothed wheels, 11'a and 11'b, respectively, and smooth wheels, 10'a and 10*b, respectively, and the guide reels 13'a and 13'b, has been pushed left in the figure, namely along and partly out of the stationary- grooves 16a, 16b. Because of the interrelationship between the toothed wheels lla, lib and the smooth wheels 10a, 10b, please see in particular figure 12, the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device 6 can be moved between a retracted position under the chair seat part 4 and to a protruding calf-supporting position in an effortless yet well controlled manner. It should be understood that moving the sheet-shaped supporting / carrying device 6 back and forward may be done by means of a knob 17 fitted and protruding from the side in line with the centre axis of the said smooth sliding roller 14, please see figure 8. From figures 9, 10, 11 it is evident that the grooves 16a and 16b are fashioned as curves which entails that also the sheet-shaped device 6 is of a corresponding shape, curved in its lengthwise direction. It should, however, be under¬ stood that the curvature which may be given to the sheet- shaped device 6 as well as the grooves 16a and 16b, may vary within wide limits, since this may be adapted to the relevant design of the actual calf-supporting part and the chair concerned on which the calf-supporting part is to be fitted. A comparison of figures 9, 10 and 11 shows that the sheet- shaped supporting/carrying device 6 follows a curved path when being pushed between its retracted position and its protruding calf-supporting position, a fact which is also shown here in full and broken lines respectively. Shown in figures 13-15 are two band-like guiding devices, 20a and 20b, respectively, which at one end, 2la and 21b, respectively, are fastened to e.g. a stationary crossbar 22 between the two grooves 16a, 16b, and carried in parallel along the top of the sheet-shaped device 6 and each via its guide reel on the transverse main axle 12, the reels 13a and 13b, respectively, in order at their opposite ends, 22a and 22b, respectively, to be attached to the internal, moveable traverse edge 5b, please see figure 1, of the web- shaped portion 5. The web-shaped portion 5 may in turn have its second forward traverse edge 5a fastened in the area of the said stationary crossbar 22, or be otherwise attached in order chiefly to be flush with the chair seat part 4. It should be understood that the said grooves 16a, 16b at their rear edges may be held together by means of a second crossbar 23, which entails that the sheet-shaped supporting / carrying device 6 with its pertaining grooves 16a, 16b, may be designed as a one-part bracket-frame, defined here by the reference numeral 24, which may be adapted to factory fitting or subsequent fitting on the chair concerned. It should thus be understood that when the calf-support, comprising the web-shaped portion 5, is pushed forward from the position shown in figure 1 to the position shown in figure 2, this movement takes place in the embodiment mentioned above, in particular by means of the knob 17, and the transfer of force then takes place through the smooth sliding roller 14 which communicates directly with the underside of the web-shaped portion 5 to push it forward, while at the same time ever larger zones or proportions of the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device 6 will support the said web-shaped portion 5. When the foot-rest 5 is pushed backwards, the knob 17 will be forced backwards, the force then being transferred to the sheet-shaped supporting / carrying device 6, while at the same time the parallel guide bands 20a, 20b, pull the rear moveable traverse edge 5b of the web-shaped portion 5 backwards to its shielded, inactive position under the chair seat part, while at the same time the said guide bands 20a, 20b, optionally by means of suitable additional devices, keep the said tranverse edge 5b and the web.shaped portion 5 as such well concealed underneath the chair seat part 4. Such retaining devices are shown in figure 14 by the reference numeral 30 and may e.g. comprise a spring-loaded board or a multitude of springy fingers which with a rear portion are fixed to a corresponding rear portion of the supporting/carrying device 6 or a rear portion of the said bracket-frame 24. In order further to achieve a tight guiding of the band¬ like guiding devices 20a and 20b, these may be executed with suitable elasticity, and/or tracks or indentations (not shown) may be fashioned in the actual surface of the sheet-shaped device 6, in order that the bands 20a and 2Ob may be given a run as straight and taught as possible along the grooves. It shall furthermore be understood that in the grooves 16a, 16b placed along the sides of the bracket-frame 24, straps (not shown) may be arranged which serve to guide the device 6 and determine how far the sheet-shaped device 6 can be pulled out of the bracket-frame 24 in its fully protruding position. The device according to the invention is here described in connection with a chair, in particular a reclining rest for a chair, but it shall be understood that the device may also be used in general in furniture and in seating and resting bases for users of different sizes and different seating/resting needs.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i m s 1. An arrangement in a chair part, in particular a calf- supporting part (5) for a chair (1) comprising a chair seat part (4) and a back part (3) , the calf-supporting part (5) comprising a web-shaped portion (5) which is supported by moveable supporting/carrying devices (6) and runs in a loop (4b) via one or several curved guide devices (22) attached to the supporting/carrying devices (6) so that the web- shaped portion (5) may be pushed continuously between a shielded, inactive retracted position underneath the chair seat part (4) and an active protruded calf-supporting position, chiefly flush with the chair seat part, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the supporting / carrying devices are made up of a sheet-shaped carrying carriage (6) arranged so as to support a chiefly non- stiffened web-shaped portion (2) . 2. An arrangement as stated in claim l, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the sheet-shaped carrying carriage (6) is arranged so as to support a web- shaped portion made up of a chiefly separate cover material, i.e. of a material, man-made or cloth-like structure which represents the same cover material or is readily adaptable to the cover material of the furniture part, particularly the chair seat part (4) . 3. An arrangement as stated in claims 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device (6) at either side of its rear portion (6a) is fitted with a smooth wheel (10a, 10b) and a toothed wheel (lla, lib) . 4. An arrangement as stated in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that each of the toothed wheels (lla, lib) on the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device (6) interacts with a respective toothed track or toothed guide (17) arranged each in a groove (16a, 16b) placed at the sides and fastened at the underside of the chair seat part (4) or to other parts of the chair or piece of furniture. 5. An arrangement as stated in claims 3 and 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that each of the smooth wheels (10a, 10b) of the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device (6) runs in the same sideways placed groove (16a, 16b) as the respective toothed wheel (lla, lib) but along a groove portion (19) which is opposite to the groove portion (20) which carries the toothed track or the toothed guide (17). 6. An arrangement as stated in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the sheet- shaped supporting/carrying device (6) at its forward portion (6b) carries a guide device fashioned as a freely rotatable chiefly smooth sliding roller (14) running in the transverse direction. 7. An arrangement as stated in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that at the rear area (6a) of the sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device (6) a traversely running rotating axle (12) is arranged carrying at either end one each of the said toothed wheels (lla, lib) in order thereby to rotate in step with these, and that, around the said rotating axle (12) , at least one band-like guiding device (20a, 20b) has been wound. 8. An arrangement as stated in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the band-like guide device (20a, 20b) at one end is fixed permanently at a frame portion (22) chiefly arranged at a lower forward area of the chair seat part (4) , in which area also one stationary traverse edge (5b) of the web-shaped portion (5) is attached, the guiding device (20a, 20b) being at its other end attached to the opposite moveable traverse edge (5a) of the web-shaped portion (5) . 9. An arrangement as stated in claims 7 or 8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that arranged as guidedevices (20a, 20b) are two parallel bands (20a, 20b) which are carried between the said traverse edges (5a, 5b) of the web-shaped portion (5) and each via its guide reel (13a, 13b) arranged on the said rotating axle (12) . 10. An arrangement as stated in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the sheet- shaped supporting/carrying device (6) with pertaining grooves (16a, 16b) is executed as a one-part bracket-frame (24) adapted for factory fitting or subsequent fitting on a chair. 11. An arrangement as stated in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the slim sheet-shaped supporting/carrying device (6) is fashioned as a slightly curved sheet (6) , the said curved sheet being arranged for being fitted slidingly into corresponding curved grooves (16a, 16b) , all of it being adapted to the relevant chair on which the calf-supporting part is to be fitted. 12. An arrangement as stated in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the arrangement comprises one or several retaining devices (30) serving to keep the rear tranverse edge (5b) of the web- shaped portion (5) underneath the chair seat (4) when the portion (5) is retracted beneath the chair seat part (4) . 13. An arrangement as stated in claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the retaining device or retaining devices (30) may e.g. comprise a spring loaded board or a multitude of springy fingers, at a rear portion being fixed to a corresponding rear portion of the supporting/carrying device 6 or a rear portion of the said bracket-frame (24) , and with its protruding portion or portions forming a guide and a support for the web (5) .

Inventors: MEINERT SOREN, RYKKEN ARNE O, MEINERT, SOEREN, RYKKEN, ARNE, O.
Applicants: MEINERT SOREN, RYKKEN ARNE O, MEINERT, SOEREN, RYKKEN, ARNE, O.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A47C7
IPC codes: A47C7