Patent Publication Number: US-9402479-B1

Title: Leisure chair with a footrest unit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a leisure chair with a footrest unit and, more particularly, to a leisure chair including a footrest unit that has a reduced volume in a store position, has a larger span in an extended position, and provides more stable operation. 
     A type of conventional chairs includes a footrest for supporting the calves of a user to increase the sitting comfort, and the footrest can be moved between an extended position and a storage position to provide convenience use to the user. 
     A conventional footrest is generally mounted below a front end of a seat of a chair and is generally perpendicular to the seat in the storage position. The footrest can be pivoted to a position substantially parallel to the seat. An example of such a footrest is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,572,185; 7,134,713; and 6,402,232. However, the footrest is limited by the height of the seat from the ground, leading to insufficient extended length of the footrest. 
     In an arrangement, the footrest can be extended when a backrest of the chair is moved. However, the footrest cannot be moved to the extended position when the backrest is not moved to in a rearward inclination position. In another arrangement, movement between the extended position and the storage position of the footrest can be achieved by a control rod that cannot be operated conveniently while increasing the costs. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide leisure chair including a footrest unit that has a reduced volume in a store position, has a larger span in an extended position, and provides more stable operation. 
     A leisure chair with a footrest unit according to the present invention includes a base adapted to be placed on a ground. The base includes a horizontal rod having two ends spaced from each other in a width direction. The horizontal rod includes a front supporting portion extending forwards from the horizontal rod and located between the two ends of the horizontal rod. An armrest is adapted to be mounted to each of the two ends of the horizontal rod. A seat is mounted on top of the base and includes a front side and a rear side. The seat includes two lateral rods spaced from each other in the width direction and a front rod extending between the two lateral rods. The seat is movable relative to the base in a forward/rearward direction perpendicular to the width direction between a front position and a rear position. A backrest is connected to the rear side of the seat. A footrest unit is movable between a storage position and an extended position spaced from the storage position in the forward/rearward direction. The footrest unit includes at least one first link, at least one second link, a first pivotal frame, a third link, a second pivotal frame, at least one fourth link, and at least one connection frame. Each of the at least one first link and the at least one second link is pivotably connected to a front end of the front supporting portion. A front side of the first pivotal frame in the storage position is pivotably connected to the at least one first link, the at least one second link, and the front side of the seat. A front end of the third link in the storage position is pivotably connected to the front side of the seat. A rear side of the second pivotal frame in the storage position is pivotably connected to a rear side of the first pivotal frame and a rear end of the third link. A rear end of the at least one fourth link in the storage position is pivotably connected to the rear side of the first pivotal frame. A front side of the at least one connection frame in the storage position is pivotably connected to a front side of the second pivotal frame. A rear side of the at least one connection frame in the storage position is pivotably connected to a front end of the at least one fourth link. 
     Forward movement of the seat causes the at least one first link and the at least one second link to pivot and causes the footrest unit to fold and move to the storage position below the seat. The at least one first link and the at least one second link form a folded part of the footrest unit. 
     Rearward movement of the seat causes the at least one first link and the at least one second link to pivot and extend and causes the footrest to extend and move to the extended position in front of the seat. 
     In an example, the front supporting portion of the base includes two front posts. The at least one first link includes two first links pivotably connected to front ends of the two front posts, respectively. The at least one second link including two second links pivotably connected to the front ends of the two front posts, respectively. The first pivotal frame has a width in the width direction smaller than a spacing between the two front posts in the width direction. The second pivotal frame has a width in the width direction smaller than the width of the first pivotal frame. Each of the two front posts of the base can have a length in the forward/rearward direction larger than a half of a length of the seat in the forward/rearward direction. The first pivotal frame can have a length in the forward/rearward direction approximately equal to the length of each of the two front posts. 
     The leisure chair can further include two pivotal columns. Each of the two pivotal columns has an upper end and a lower end. Each of the two ends of the horizontal rod of the base can include a pivotal seat pivotably connected to the lower end of one of the two pivotal columns. Each pivotal seat includes a stop portion on a rear side thereof. The stop portion of each pivotal seat limits a rearward pivotal angle of one of the two pivotal columns. The upper end of each of the two pivotal columns is pivotably connected to the rear side of the seat. 
     The leisure chair can further at least one elastic element mounted between the seat and the base. The at least one elastic element provides a returning force for returning the seat to the front position. 
     The backrest can be pivotably connected to the seat. A telescopic rod can be mounted between the backrest and the seat to permit control of a rearward inclination angle of the backrest. 
     In an example, each of the two front posts includes a front end having a first pivotal portion and a second pivotal portion spaced from the first pivotal portion in a vertical direction perpendicular to the forward/rearward direction and the width direction. The front rod of the seat includes two fourth pivotal portions. The front rod further includes a seventh pivotal portion. The at least one first link of the footrest unit includes two first links pivotably connected to the front ends of the two front posts, respectively. Each of the two first links includes two ends respectively having an eleventh pivotal portion and a twelfth pivotal portion. Each eleventh pivotal portion is pivotably connected to one of the two second pivotal portions of the base. Each twelfth pivotal portion is pivotably connected to one of the fourth pivotal portions of the seat. The at least one second link of the footrest unit includes two second links pivotably connected to the front ends of the two front posts, respectively. Each of the two second links includes two ends respectively having a thirteenth pivotal portion and a fourteenth pivotal portion. Each thirteenth pivotal portion is pivotably connected to one of the first pivotal portions of the base. The first pivotal frame of the footrest unit has a width in the width direction smaller than a spacing between the two front posts in the width direction. The first pivotal frame includes two first lateral beams parallel to each other and a first horizontal beam extending between the two first lateral beams. Each of the two first lateral beams has a length in the forward/rearward direction approximately equal to of the length of each of the two front posts. The two first lateral beams are symmetric to each other. Each of the two first lateral beams in the storage position includes fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth pivotal portions arranged in sequence from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof spaced from the front end in the forward/rearward direction. Each fifteenth pivotal portion is pivotably connected to one of the fourth pivotal portions of the seat and the twelfth pivotal portion of one of the two first links. Each sixteenth pivotal portion is pivotably connected to the fourteenth pivotal portion of one of the two second links. The third link in the storage position includes a nineteenth pivotal portion at the front end thereof and a twentieth pivotal portion at the rear end thereof. The nineteenth pivotal portion is pivotably connected to the seventh pivotal portion of the seat. The second pivotal frame includes two second lateral beams parallel to each other and a second horizontal beam connected between two ends respectively of the two second lateral beams. The second pivotal frame has a width in the width direction smaller than a spacing between the two first lateral beams of the first pivotal frame in the width direction. Each of the two second lateral beams in the storage position includes a front end having a twenty-first pivotal portion and a second end having a twenty-second pivotal portion. The second horizontal beam includes a twenty-third pivotal portion. Each twenty-second pivotal portion is pivotably connected to one of the seventeenth pivotal portions of the first pivotal frame. The twenty-third pivotal portion is pivotably connected to the twentieth pivotal portion of the third link. The at least one fourth link includes two fourth links. Each of the two fourth links in the storage position includes a front end having a twenty-fourth pivotal portion and a rear end having a twenty-fifth pivotal portion. Each twenty-fourth pivotal portion is pivotably connected to one of the eighteenth pivotal portions of the first pivotal frame. The at least one connection frame includes two connection frames. Each of the two connection frames in the storage position includes a front end having a twenty-sixth pivotal portion and a rear end having a twenty-seventh pivotal portion. Each twenty-sixth pivotal portion is pivotably connected to one of the twenty-first pivotal portions of the second pivotal frame. Each twenty-seventh pivotal portion is pivotably connected to the twenty-fifth pivotal portion of one of the two fourth links. 
     In an example, a sideboard is mounted to each of the two ends of the horizontal rod of the base. Each armrest is adapted to be mounted to one of the sideboards of the base. Each of the two ends of the horizontal rod of the base includes a pivotal seat having a compartment and a third pivotal portion. A lower end of each of the two pivotal columns is pivotably connected to the third pivotal portion of one of the pivotal seats. Each pivotal seat includes a stop portion on a rear side thereof. The stop portion of each pivotal seat limits a rearward pivotal angle of one of the two pivotal columns. Each of the two lateral rods of the seat includes a fifth pivotal portion pivotably connected to an upper end of one of the two pivotal columns. When the seat moves forwards, the front side of the seat presses against the two front posts of the front supporting portion, and the two pivotal columns are substantially perpendicular to the ground. When the seat moves rearwards, the two pivotal columns abut against the stop portions. The at least one elastic element includes two springs. Each of the two lateral rods of the seat includes a peg in front of one of the fifth pivotal portions. Each of the two springs includes two ends mounted to one of the pegs of the seat and one of the sideboards of the base. 
     The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a leisure chair according to the present invention, with two armrests and a control rod of a control device removed for clarity. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the leisure chair according to the present invention in a storage stage. 
         FIG. 3  is a partially cross sectioned side view of the leisure chair according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  with a seat moved rearwards. 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  with the seat moved rearwards and with a footrest unit extended. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the leisure chair according to the present invention, with the seat moved rearwards, with the footrest unit extended, and with a backrest inclined rearwards. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a leisure chair with a footrest according to the present invention includes a base  1 , a seat  2 , a backrest  3 , and a footrest unit  4 . The base  1  is adapted to be placed on a ground. The base  1  includes a horizontal rod  11  having two ends spaced from each other in a width direction. A sideboard  12  is mounted to each end of the horizontal rod  11  of the base  1 . An armrest  13  is adapted to be mounted to one of the sideboards  12  of the base  1 . A front supporting portion  14  extending forwards from the horizontal rod  11  and is located between the two ends of the horizontal rod  11 . The front supporting portion  14  of the base  1  includes two front posts  15  having a suitable length. In the form shown, the length of each of the two front posts  15  in the forward/rearward direction is larger than a half of a length of the seat  2  in the forward/rearward direction. Furthermore, each of the two front posts  15  extends upwards and forwards away from the ground. A receiving space  151  is defined between the front supporting portion  14  and a bottom of the base  1 . Each of the two front posts  15  includes a front end having a first pivotal portion  152  and a second pivotal portion  153  spaced from the first pivotal portion  152  in a vertical direction perpendicular to the forward/rearward direction and the width direction. Each of the two ends of the horizontal rod  11  of the base  1  further includes a pivotal seat  16  having a compartment  161  and a third pivotal portion  162 . A lower end of each of two pivotal columns  17  is pivotably connected to the third pivotal portion  162  of one of the pivotal seats  16 . Each pivotal seat  16  further includes a stop portion  163  on a rear side thereof. The stop portion  163  of each pivotal seat  16  limits a rearward pivotal angle of one of the two pivotal columns  17 . 
     The seat  2  is mounted on top of the base  1  and is movable relative to the base  1  in the forward/rearward direction perpendicular to the width direction between a front position and a rear position. The seat  2  includes a front side and a rear side. The seat  2  includes two lateral rods  22  spaced from each other in the width direction and a front rod  21  extending between the two lateral rods  22 . The front rod  21  of the seat  2  includes two fourth pivotal portions  23 . Each of the two lateral rods  22  of the seat  2  includes a fifth pivotal portion  24  pivotably connected to an upper end of one of the two pivotal columns  17 . The rear end of each of the two lateral rods  22  includes a sixth pivotal portion  25 . The front rod  21  further includes a seventh pivotal portion  26 . At least one elastic element  27  is mounted between the seat  2  and the base  1  to provide a returning force for returning the seat  2  to the front position. In the form shown, two elastic elements  27  are provided. Each of the two lateral rods  22  of the seat  2  includes a peg  221  in front of one of the fifth pivotal portions  24 . Each of the two elastic elements  27  includes two ends mounted to one of the pegs  221  of the seat  2  and one of the sideboards  12  of the base  1 . The front rod  21  further includes an eighth pivotal portion  28 . 
     The backrest  3  is connected to the rear side of the seat  2 . The backrest  3  includes two lateral rods  31  and a bottom rod  32  extending between the two lateral rods  31 . Each lateral rod  31  includes a ninth pivotal portion  33  pivotably connected to one of the two sixth pivotal portions  25  of the seat  2 , permitting the backrest  3  to pivot relative to the seat  2 . The bottom rod  32  includes a tenth pivotal portion  321 . A telescopic rod  34  includes a first end pivotably connected to the eighth pivotal portion  28  of the seat  2  and a second end pivotably connected to the tenth pivotal portion  321  of the backrest  3 . A control device  35  is provided to control a length of the telescopic rod  34  and the rearward inclination angle of the backrest  3 . The telescopic rod  34  can be manually or electrically operated. A control cable of the control device  35  is shown, but control elements of the control device  35  are not shown. 
     The footrest unit  4  is movable between a storage position and an extended position spaced from the storage position in the forward/rearward direction. In the form shown, the footrest unit  4  includes two first links  41 , two second links  42 , a first pivotal frame  43 , a third link  44 , a second pivotal frame  45 , two fourth links  46 , and two connection frames  47 . 
     Each of the first links  41  is pivotably connected to a side of the front end of one of the two front posts  15 . Each of the two first links  41  includes two ends respectively having an eleventh pivotal portion  411  and a twelfth pivotal portion  412 . Each eleventh pivotal portion  411  is pivotably connected to one of the two second pivotal portions  153  of the base  1 . Each twelfth pivotal portion  412  is pivotably connected to one of the fourth pivotal portions  23  of the seat  2 . 
     Each of the two second links  42  is pivotably connected to the other side of the front end of one of the two front posts  15  opposite to the associated first link  41 . Each of the two second links  42  includes two ends respectively having a thirteenth pivotal portion  421  and a fourteenth pivotal portion  422 . Each thirteenth pivotal portion  421  is pivotably connected to one of the first pivotal portions  152  of the base  1 . 
     The first pivotal frame  43  includes two first lateral beams  431  parallel to each other and a first horizontal beam  432  extending between the two first lateral beams  431 . The first pivotal frame  43  has a width in the width direction smaller than a spacing between the two front posts  15  in the width direction. Each of the two first lateral beams  431  has a length in the forward/rearward direction approximately equal to of the length of each of the two front posts  15  to provide a larger span when the footrest unit  4  is in the extended position. The two first lateral beams  431  are symmetric to each other. Each of the two first lateral beams  431  in the storage position includes fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth pivotal portions  433 ,  434 ,  435 , and  436  arranged in sequence from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof spaced from the front end in the forward/rearward direction. Each fifteenth pivotal portion  433  is pivotably connected to one of the fourth pivotal portions  23  of the seat  2  and the twelfth pivotal portion  412  of one of the two first links  41 . Each sixteenth pivotal portion  434  is pivotably connected to the fourteenth pivotal portion  422  of one of the two second links  42 . 
     The third link  44  in the storage position includes a nineteenth pivotal portion  441  at a front end thereof and a twentieth pivotal portion  442  at a rear end thereof. The nineteenth pivotal portion  441  is pivotably connected to the seventh pivotal portion  26  of the seat  2 . 
     The second pivotal frame  45  includes two second lateral beams  451  parallel to each other and a second horizontal beam  452  connected between two ends respectively of the two second lateral beams  451 . The second pivotal frame  45  has a width in the width direction smaller than a spacing between the two first lateral beams  431  of the first pivotal frame  43  in the width direction. Each of the two second lateral beams  451  in the storage position includes a front end having a twenty-first pivotal portion  453  and a second end having a twenty-second pivotal portion  454 . The second horizontal beam  452  includes a twenty-third pivotal portion  455 . Each twenty-second pivotal portion  454  is pivotably connected to one of the seventeenth pivotal portions  435  of the first pivotal frame  43 . The twenty-third pivotal portion  455  is pivotably connected to the twentieth pivotal portion  442  of the third link  44 . 
     Each of the two fourth links  46  in the storage position includes a front end having a twenty-fourth pivotal portion  461  and a rear end having a twenty-fifth pivotal portion  462 . Each twenty-fourth pivotal portion  461  is pivotably connected to one of the eighteenth pivotal portions  436  of the first pivotal frame  43 . 
     The two connection frames  47  are mounted relative to each other. Each of the two connection frames  47  in the storage position includes a front end having a twenty-sixth pivotal portion  471  and a rear end having a twenty-seventh pivotal portion  472 . Each twenty-sixth pivotal portion  471  is pivotably connected to one of the twenty-first pivotal portions  453  of the second pivotal frame  45 . Each twenty-seventh pivotal portion  472  is pivotably connected to the twenty-fifth pivotal portion  462  of one of the two fourth links  46 . A soft pad (not shown) can be mounted on top of the connection frames  47 . 
     When the footrest unit  4  is not extended, the footrest unit  4  is pulled and positioned by the elastic elements  27  of the seat  2 . When the footrest unit  4  is folded, the first links  41  and the second links  42  are pivoted and, thus form a folded part of the footrest  4  relative to the base  1 . Thus, the footrest unit  4  can be received in the receiving space  151  and between the two front posts  15 . Furthermore, the second pivotal frame  45  is received between the two first lateral beams  431  of the first pivotal frame  43 . As a result, the footrest unit  4  can be folded and stored. The overall thickness A ( FIG. 3 ) of the footrest unit  4  in the storage position is reduced, providing a sense of quality. Furthermore, when a user sits in the seat  2 , the front side of the seat  2  presses against the front posts  15  of the supporting portion  14 , and the two pivotal columns  17  are substantially perpendicular to the ground to provide a stable supporting effect. At this time, the control device  35  can be operated to control the telescopic rod  34  for adjusting the rearward inclination angle of the backrest  3  (not shown). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , when the user holds the armrests  13  and moves his or her buttocks rearwards to apply a force moving the seat  2  rearwards relative to the base, the footrest unit  4  is extended and moves from the storage position to the extended position. During the movement of the footrest unit  4 , the upper ends of the pivotal columns  17  move rearward, abut against the stop portions  163  of the base  1 , and are stopped and positioned by the stop portions  163  while stretching the elastic elements  27 . During the rearward movement of the seat  2 , the first and second links  41  and  42  pivot about the front supporting portion  14  of the base  1  to cause forward extension of the first pivotal frame  43  while causing upward extension of the second pivotal frame  45 , the second links  46 , and the connection frames  47 . The whole span B of the footrest unit  4  in the extended position shown in  FIG. 5  is larger than the length of the first pivotal frame  43  to provide better supporting comfort for the calves of the user. In this case, the user can also use the control device  35  to control the length of the telescopic rod  34  and the rearward inclination angle of the backrest  3 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     When it is desired to fold the footrest unit  4  again, the use can use the legs to apply a downward force to fold the footrest  4  and to move the seat  2  forward to a state shown in  FIG. 3 . The returning force of the elastic elements  27  provides easy, convenient folding. Operation of the footrest unit  4  does not require any other control rod. 
     In view of the foregoing, the footrest unit  4  of the leisure chair in the storage position has a reduced volume to provide a sense of quality. Furthermore, the footrest unit  4  of the leisure chair in the extended position has a larger span to provide increased supporting comfort for the legs of the user. Furthermore, the operation is more stable. Furthermore, the footrest unit  4  is not operatively connected to the backrest  3 , such that the leisure chair does not have to include the telescopic rod  34  if adjustment of the inclination angle of the backrest  3  is not required. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.