Abstract:
A reclining chair system with a standard assembly supporting seat and backrest assemblies, which are pivotally mounted to each other and capable of providing a rocker effect to a user. A strut assembly provides substantially a bounce free shock absorbing function by using two coaxially disposed compressible and resilient members that are compressed sequentially. A headed shaft with a step limits the compression of the first member. The arrangement permits a volumetrically efficient operation while preventing excessive fatigue of the member. An adjustment mechanism permits a user to readily set the relative angular position of backrest and seat with respect to the standard (and consequently the horizontal plane) depending on the location of the chair system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a system for a reclining chair, and more particularly, to such a system that is substantially bounce free and adjustable. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Many systems for reclining chairs have been developed in the past. Their purpose is to provide extra-comfort, involving diverse reclining mechanisms, which make events, such as watching movies, a more enjoyable experience. These reclining mechanisms may be classified in two types: “Rockers” (those that involve simultaneous reclining of the backrest and seat assemblies) and “loungers” (those which only recline the backrest), according to industry terms and definitions. In general, they allow a user to lean backwards as he or she sits in, and recuperate their original (upright) position when he or she leans forward and/or stand up. Available cinema “rocker” or “lounger” chairs in the art, however, involve reclining actions that are either bouncy, “springy”, hard to—effortlessly—operate or do not provide a stable and comfortable position to the user. 
   On the other hand, mainstream cinema “rockers” and “loungers”, that include a backrest, cushions and stanchions upon which the first two are mounted, come totally disassembled (stanchions, cushions backrests and rocking mechanisms are typically shipped individually). Installers must assemble the cushions, backrests and rocking mechanisms on the stanchions, on site, involving multiple manipulations, fastening and subassembly operations. 
   Also, so called cinema “rockers” and “loungers” have setup limitations with respect to the relative position of the chair vis-à-vis the movie screen or similar structure. Modern theaters feature high slope settings. This means that the chairs for the spectators on the first row and the ones on the last row of the room require different inclination angles, to optimize their visual line to the screen. Mainstream cinema chairs (including “rockers” and “loungers”) allow for adjustment of the backrests, but the seats cannot be adjusted in the same fashion. At best, this adjustment is undertaken in a separate operation, keeping in mind that the relative angle between the backrest and seat needs to stay the same to provide an appropriate and comfortable posture to the user (if only the backrest is adjusted, this angle changes). 
   None of the existing chairs in the prior art, however, include an adjustable plate assembly to regulate the inclination angle of the seat and backrest simultaneously, and a supporting plate that holds the backrest and seat together to simplify installation and maintenance. Additionally, a volumetrically efficient rocker strut assembly with bounce-free characteristics is claimed herein. The resulting chair guarantees an effortless reclining action for the user, ease of installation and maintenance and better comfort configuration conforming to the theater&#39;s slope configuration. 
   Applicant believes that one related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,846 issued to Finney et al. on Aug. 20, 1991 for a rocker chair. Finney&#39;s patented invention includes a rocking chair with a standard on each side for supporting the chair. A contoured spring guide is attached to each standard that provides a support and deflection profile for leaf springs held in trolleys on each side of the chair. A wing plate extends upwardly from each trolley and terminates in a guide surface. A guide roller is mounted near the top of each standard and provides lateral and longitudinal support for the guide surface the wing plate on each side of the chair. A chair seat is mounted on each trolley and a chair back is mounted between each wing plate. The chair seat and chair back move in unison in a rocking manner as the leaf springs increase and decrease contact along the surface of each spring guide. However, it differs from the present invention because: A) the reclining/rocking effect is attained by a leaf spring instead of the novel strut assembly of the present invention, B) design, manufacture and relative disposition of the fixed and moving elements that allow the rocking effect are different as the figures and descriptions in the present document and these shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,846, and C) the patented chair includes a standard architecture, with the seat and backrest as separate subassemblies, requiring additional installation time. 
   Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,128 issued to Smith et al. on Feb. 22, 1994 for reclining theater seating. Smith&#39;s patented invention includes backrest and seat mounted upon spaced-apart wings having a substantially inverted, truncated, right triangular shape. The wings are respectively pivotally mounted to the inner sides of a pair of spaced-apart stanchions such that in the upright position of the chair the axis upon which the seat is mounted to the wings is located close to and substantially directly vertically above the axis upon which the wings are pivotally mounted to the respective stanchions. However, it differs from the present invention because: A) the reclining/rocking effect is implemented with a spring instead of a strut assembly as in the present invention, B) design, manufacture and relative disposition of the fixed and moving elements that allow the rocking effect are different as the figures and descriptions in the present document and the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,128 show, and C) the patented chair includes a standard architecture with the seat and backrest as separate subassemblies. 
   None of them, however, includes an adjustable plate assembly, a supporting plate and rocker strut assembly with the characteristics claimed herein. The result is a substantially bounce free adjustable reclining chair that has a pre-assembled configuration. 
   Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a system for reclining chair of the type that permits the user to assume a reclined position upon occupying the chair, providing a steady, effortless reclining action that results in a comfortable and stable position. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a system for a reclining chair that results in easy installation and maintenance procedures, including replacing the strut assemblies that serve as a dampening element for the reclining system. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a rocker system for a cinema chair that allows simultaneous, but sequential reclining of the backrest and seat, starting with the backrest and continuing with the seat allowing movement of both simultaneously to a comfortable position, but limiting the motion of the seat so the user&#39;s feet do not come off the ground when leaning back. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide a system for a reclining chair that allows easy and simultaneous adjustment of the initial inclination angle of the backrest and seat cushion relative to the floor, to optimize the visual line to the screen or stage. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a system for a cinema or auditorium reclining chair that permits the user to readily configure the chair to either have a: A) rocker (backrest and cushion recline simultaneously) or B) lounger (only backrest reclines), without requiring additional chair re-design, re-configuration or parts. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
   Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  represents an isometric view of an assembled chair including foam pads, standards, armrests including their cup holders, backrest and seat assembly. 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the chair represented in  FIG. 1  without foam pads. 
       FIG. 3  shows an isometric exploded view of the reclining chair system object of the present application. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a side exploded elevational view of the chair represented in  FIG. 2  with seat and backrest assemblies separated from the standard assembly. 
       FIG. 4  shows an isometric exploded view of the backrest and seat assemblies of the chair shown in previous figures. 
       FIG. 4A  is an enlarged isometric view of the pivoting point showing the stopper and sleeves being mounted to their corresponding openings in the lateral side of the seat assembly (partially shown). 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view showing the support plate assembly with rocker strut and position plate assemblies mounted thereto. 
       FIG. 5A  represents a side elevational view of the assemblies shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of the rocker strut assembly. 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross section view of the rocker strut assembly in a rest position. 
       FIG. 6B  is a cross section view of the rocker strut assembly when upper rubber cylinder is compressed to approximately 30%. 
       FIG. 6C  is a cross section view of the rocker strut assembly when upper and lower rubber cylinders are in maximum permitted compression. 
       FIG. 7  represents an exploded view of the rocker strut assembly. 
       FIG. 8  shows a side elevational view of the chair&#39;s standard assembly with the adjustable plate assembly mounted thereto. 
       FIG. 8A  shows an isometric exploded view of the standard assembly and adjustable plate assembly represented in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8B  shows an isometric view of the standard assembly and adjustable plate assembly represented in  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes backrest assembly  20 , seat assembly  30 , standard assembly  40 , seat and backrest supporting chassis plate assembly  60 , position plate assembly  70 , and rocker strut assembly  80 , as best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A , backrest assembly  20  is a unitary piece having a side elevational shape that resembles the letter “L” with a substantially rectangular frame  22 . Preferably, frame  22  is made with steel tubular members mounted together, preferably by welding. Lower portion  24  is pivotally mounted to seat assembly  30  at a point that coincides with opening  35  and through opening  26 , as best seen in  FIG. 4A . Lower portion  24  also includes rocker strut securing opening  27 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A,  4  and  4 A, seat assembly  30  includes seat member  32  with lateral sides  34 . Sides  34  include openings  35 , rocker pin  36  and stopper pins  37 . Pins  36  and  37  are perpendicularly mounted to sides  34 , as best seen in  FIG. 4A . Preferably, rocker pin  36  and stopper pins  37  include cushion sleeves  36 ′ and  37 ′ to reduce noise and avoid metal-to-metal contact. Spacing bearing tubes  38  are housed within openings  35 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 . As will be discussed below, passing pin  160  passes through openings  66 ,  26  and  35 . 
   Standard assembly  40  is typically (but not necessarily) mounted to a substantially horizontal supporting surface (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 8 , standard assembly  40  preferably extends upwardly and rearwardly at an angle between 70° and 80° with respect to a horizontal surface. Assembly  40  includes base  46  typically anchored to a substantially horizontal surface, leg member  42  mounted to base  46  at one end, and armrest member  44  pivotally mounted to the other end of member  42  with pivoting bracket  48 . Pivoting bracket  48  is mounted to the upper end of member  42 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . As best seen in  FIG. 8A , bracket  48  includes parallel and spaced apart plates  49  for cooperatively receiving end  44 ′ therein between. Pin  47  passes through holes  47 ′ and  147  thereby pivotally supporting end  44 ′. Stopper pin  45  passes through holes  45 ′ and coacts with cutout  145  to limit the pivoting angle. Preferably, end  44 ″ includes a cup holder  149  mounted thereon. Leg member  42  has preferably a substantially square cross section with walls  142 ,  144 ,  146  and  148 . Leg member  42  also includes axle receiving opening  41  and opening  43  in each of walls  142  and  144 . Leg member  42  also includes mounting plate member  50 , which has a substantially triangular shape in the preferred embodiment. Mounting plate member  50  is rigidly mounted to wall  146  a predetermined distance from base  46 . Mounting plate member  50  includes upper surface  52  with supporting pin  54  perpendicularly mounted thereon, adjacent to its distal end. Upper surface  52  may include more than one supporting pin  54  if there is a contiguous chair. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 8A  plate assembly  70  includes plate  72  with axle  74  and axle  76  mounted to plate  72 . Sleeve  76 ′ covers axle  76  and avoids metal to metal contact with bay  260 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . As best seen in  FIG. 8A , plates  72  are mounted to walls  142  and  144 , which are in a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to each other. If there are two contiguous chairs, then two plates  72  are needed. Plate  72 , includes narrow end  71 , wide end  73 , and setting openings  78 . One end of axle  74  is perpendicularly mounted to one surface of plate  72  at a predetermined distance from and substantially adjacent to narrow end  71 . The other end of axle  74  is received by opening  41  of standard assembly  40 , as best seen in  FIG. 8A . One end of axle  76  is eccentric and perpendicularly mounted to the opposite surface of plate  72 . The other end of axle member  76  is engaged within bay  260 , between bifurcated fingers  163  and  263  (also between  163 ′ and  263 ′) of seat supporting chassis plate assembly  60 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . Setting openings  78  are aligned next to wide end  73  in a space apart relationship with respect to each other. Fastening member  79  passes through one of setting openings  78  and is secured to standard assembly  40  through opening  43 , as best seen in  FIG. 8B . Depending on the angle desired for setting backrest assembly  20  as well as seat assembly  30  with respect to standard assembly  40 , a cooperative opening  78  is selected. Typically, the person who installs reclining chair system  10  selects this setting depending on the location with respect to the stage or screen. 
   The purpose of standard assembly  40  is to provide support for backrest and seat assemblies  20  and  30 , (which are joined together by chassis plate assembly  60 ) as well as for armrest member  44 . Assembly  40  constitutes the chair&#39;s structural support to the floor or supporting surface. Standard assembly  40  provides two points of support for: a) plate assembly  70  on side walls  142  or  144 ; and b) mounting plate member  50 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  5 A, chassis or supporting plate assembly  60  includes identical plate members  62 , kept in a spaced apart and parallel relationship with respect to each other with separators  161 . Separators  161  are preferably welded to plate members  62 . Plate member  62  has an L-shape with arms  61  and  63  substantially perpendicular to each other. Arm  61  is wider than arm  63 . Arm  61  includes through openings  64 ,  65  and  66 . Plate  140  is rigidly mounted to arms  63 . Plate  140  has central opening  141 , as best seen in  FIG. 5A . Openings  64  and  65  removably receive rocker pin  36  and stopper pins  37 , respectively, as best seen in  FIG. 3A . As best seen in  FIG. 4 , seat supporting chassis plate assembly  60  also includes passing pin  160  with ends  162  and  168 . End  162  includes connecting member  164  rigidly mounted thereon. Connecting member  164  includes opening  166 . End  168  passes through openings  66  (of the outer plate), opening  26 , opening  66  (of the inner plate) and opening  35 . Connecting member  164  at end  162  of pin passing  160  includes opening  166  with cooperative dimensions to receive supporting pin  54 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 . 
   Stopper pins  169  and  269  are mounted between plate members  62  and are covered with sleeves  169 ′ and  269 ′, respectively to avoid metal-to-metal contact. Pins  169  and  269  are kept a place with locking rings  167  and  267 , respectively. Pins  169  and  269  coact with lower portion  24  to limit the pivoting action of the latter. 
   Rocker strut assembly  80 , shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , cushions the weight of a user. Space in the area where strut assembly  80  is installed is very limited. The present invention addresses this problem. As best seen in  FIG. 7 , rocker strut assembly  80  includes stepped or headed shaft member  86  with head end  87 , distal end  89  and portions  87 ′ and  89 ′ next to head end  87  and distal end  89 , respectively. Step  85  divides portions  87 ′ and  89 ′. Portion  87 ′ has a larger diameter than portion  89 ′. Head end  87  is pivotally mounted to backrest assembly  20  at rocker strut securing opening  27 , as seen in  FIG. 5A . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 7 , strut assembly  80  includes upper spacer  92  that has, in the preferred embodiment, a circular shape with perforations  93  and central opening  92 ′ to slidably receive shaft  86  therethrough. Spacer  92  is preferably made out of nylon. Distal end  89  of headed shaft member  86  passes through ball joint  88 . Ball joint  88  is made out of a hard plastic or polymer base material such as nylon. Sandwiched between ball joint  88  and upper spacer  92  are upper rubber cylinder  82 , middle spacer  94 , lower rubber cylinder  84  and lower spacer  95  with their respective coaxially aligned central through openings  82 ′,  94 ′,  84 ′ and  95 ′. Cylinders  82  and  84  are made out of a compressible and resilient material such as rubber or equivalent. Central through openings  94 ′ of middle spacer  94  has a smaller diameter than the diameter of portion  87 ′. The weight of a user causes step  85  to travel initially towards middle spacer  94 , as best seen in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C. 
   After headed shaft member  86  has traveled a predetermined distance no further compression of cylinder  82  is allowed by spacer  94 . This prevents additional compression on compressible and resilient upper rubber cylinder  82  preferably not beyond its 30% compression, in the preferred embodiment. It has been found that rubber cylinders deteriorate more rapidly if their compression exceeds 30% of their height. In the same fashion, compression of cylinder  84  is limited by stopper  169 , as lower member  24  leans upon it. Upper and lower rubber cylinders  82  and  84  compress against each other with the weight of a user and resiliently recuperate their shapes upon the release of the weight. 
   In practice, the inventor observed that, as the chair user lean back, thus exerting pressure on the strut assembly, upper cylindrical member  82  compressed more before the lower rubber cylinder  84 . This required the use of step  85  to limit the compression of upper cylinder member  82 . Also, the inwardly expansion of the upper cylindrical member  82  touches shaft  86  creating a braking effect that contributes to the stabilization of the final compressed state and position of the chair. In a way, this gripping effect makes the rotation or movement of backrest assembly  20  (and seat assembly  30 ) less dependant on the application or release of the weight of the user. Member  84  also touches shaft  86  in the same manner, although to a lesser extent, given the smaller diameter of shaft  86  between step  85  and distal end  89 . The braking effect is present in most of the compression and decompression length of the strut (assuming the user weighs more than what is required to deform cylinder  82  to the limit imposed by step  85 ). In essence, this structure diminishes the resistance that the resilient strut assembly exerts in the direction opposite to reclination, thus providing for the user a stable position at any point of strut travel. Therefore, rocker strut assembly  80  provides a compressible element with diminished resilience to reclining chair  10  that is smoothly and comfortably overcome by a user&#39;s weight, and yields a stable reclined position. 
   Backrest receiver and stopper fork member  90  is, in the preferred embodiment a unitary piece, and includes two parallel and spaced apart plates  97  and  97 ′ with through openings  99  and  99 ′, respectively, as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Plates  97  and  97 ′ are rigidly and perpendicularly joined to spacer plate  96  that includes through opening  91  through which head end  87  is secured to plate  96 , as best seen in  FIG. 6 . Bushing members  100  and  100 ′ are mounted inside through openings  99  and  99 ′, respectively. As seen in  FIG. 5A , lower portion  24  of backrest assembly  20  is mounted to backrest receiver and stopper fork member  90  with passing pin  120  as best seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A and  5 A. Passing pin  120  is kept in place with locking rings  121  and  121 ′, shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6A . Spaced apart plates  97  and  97 ′ are secured to lower portion  24  by passing pin  120 , which passes through rocker strut securing opening  27  as well as openings  99  and  99 ′ (see  FIGS. 5A ,  6 ,  7 ). Lower end  89  of shaft  86  is mounted to plate  140 , which is rigidly mounted to the upper edge of arms  63  and  63 ′. Distal end  89  of stepped shaft member  86  passes through central through opening  141  of plate  140 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . 
   One of the features of the present invention is that in conventional theater seat, the backrest moves back and the seat assembly stays at substantially the same position. The present invention achieves a rocker effect whereby the angular relationship of the seat and backrest assemblies is preserved when a user leans back. In operation, lower portion  24  coacts with rocker pin  36  and any backward movement of backrest assembly  20  is transmitted to seat assembly  30  angularly lifting it in proportion to the movement of assembly  20 . In turn, by removing rocker pin  36 , the present invention may also behave as a cinema “lounger” chair, wherein only the backrest reclines and the seat assembly stays at substantially the same position. 
   The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.