Furniture device with adjustable angle between the seat and the back of the piece of furniture

The present invention relates to a device for an adjustable piece of seating and reclining furniture with an adjustable angle between the seat and the back of the piece of furniture, wherein on each side of the piece of seating and reclining furniture there is located a fitting projecting up from the base of the piece of furniture, the seat being tiltable about a forward suspension point on the fitting, and the back being tillable about a rear suspension point on the fitting, wherein the back upon tilting backwards causes the seat to tilt backwards, as disclosed in the preamble of attached claim 1.

According to the invention, the device is also related to aspects wherein:

- the piece of furniture is equipped with a neck rest;

- the piece of furniture is equipped with a leg rest that is pivotally connected to a forward part of the seat frame;

- a first actuator, for example, a gas spring, is controllable to cause said angle adjustment, and wherein a second activator, for example, a gas spring, is controllable to cause tilting up of the leg rest; and

- the piece of furniture has arm rests.

The term "adjustable piece of seating and reclining furniture" is understood here and in the following to mean primarily an adjustable chair, but as an alternative or a supplement also at least an adjustable seating and reclining means in a sofa construction, or a type of temporary bed or a piece of resting furniture on which it is possible for the user of the piece of furniture to assume a sitting position, a lying position or positions in between.

To illustrate the prior art, reference is made to US Patent 5263767. Furthermore, reference will also be made to US 4840426, DE 3530868, US 20060061177, EP 1074237, US 6840575, EP 1188866 and US 2961035.

One of the objects of the present invention has been to allow a piece of seating and reclining furniture, which has an adjustable angle between the seat and the back of the piece of furniture, to have the possibility of being equipped with automatic foot/leg rests or of being without such foot/leg rests. This means that the same connecting mechanism between seat and back will be capable of being used. In relation to the difficulties of adjustment in said US Patent 5263767, it is another object of the

invention to permit easier adjustment of the inclination of the seat relative to the floor and thus seat height from the floor, and correct angle of use in relation to the back.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to assure, through the use of simple mechanisms, good interaction between the movements of the seat and the back when the angle between them is changed, so that the seat is not tilted forward when the back is tilted backwards, but that by selecting and positioning such a mechanism, better functionality and better user experience are assured for the user.

In addition, it has been an object in relation to the invention to provide a simple neck rest mechanism which is activated when there are changes in angle between the seat and the back so as to be able to give the user of the piece of furniture a comfortable and not least functionally correct neck support.

A common problem with adjustable pieces of seating and reclining furniture is that there is often a large number of handles and wheels for controlling the adjustment of the piece of furniture, for example, to adjust the angle between the seat and the back, or to put the foot/leg rest in the right position. Often handles for such operations are found either on the same side of the piece of furniture or on both sides thereof, but a common feature of the solutions is that these handles are awkward to operate, and not least it is often difficult for the user to remember exactly which of several handles is the control for a respective adjustment mechanism on the piece of seating and reclining furniture. Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to find a simple solution to this problem in connection with the piece of seating and reclining furniture.

With adjustable pieces of seating and reclining furniture of this type, it has in addition been a disadvantage that the arm rest usually remains in the same position, even if the angle between the seat and the back increases substantially. This is at times found to be awkward and in some cases uncomfortable, and one of the objects of the invention is also to solve this problem.

According to the invention, the aforementioned device is characterised in that a link is pivotally fastened to a rear part of the seat frame and pivotally fastened to a lower part of the back frame, the pivotal connection of the link to the back frame being located behind and below said rear suspension point.

According to one embodiment of the device, the forward suspension point is located higher than the rear suspension point

According to another embodiment, the pivotal connection of the link to the seat frame is located flush approximately in the region of the rear suspension point, preferably at a short distance above and/or behind the rear suspension point.

According to an embodiment of the device that is related to the piece of furniture having a neck rest, a neck rest is arranged on the back of the piece of seating and reclining furniture in that the neck rest has a frame which is hinge-connected to an upper part of the chair back, the neck rest frame at the hinge connection with the back having a forward facing arm which forms an articulated connection with a rod extending down along the back, the rod at its lower end being articulated to an upright arm attached to the rear part of the seat frame, so that an increase in the angle between the seat and the back tilts the neck rest forwards about the hinge connection to the back relative to the back.

In an alternative embodiment of the device that is related to the piece of furniture having a neck rest, a neck rest is arranged on the chair back in that the neck rest has a frame that is hinge-connected to an upper part of the chair back, the neck rest frame at the hinge connection with the back having a forward facing arm which forms an articulated connection with a rod extending down along the back, the rod at its lower end being articulated to a forward facing arm on an elongate fitting, which fitting close to this arm is pivotally connected to the back frame, the fitting extending forwards towards the forward part of the seat and there being articulated to a tiltable leg rest frame, which leg rest frame is pivotally connected to the forward part of the seat frame, so that on an increase of the angle between the seat and the back, the neck rest is caused to tilt forwards about the hinge connection, whilst the leg rest tilts up.

To facilitate operation of the piece of seating and reclining furniture when it is provided with a leg rest that is pivotally connected to a forward part of the seat frame, the device is equipped with a first actuator, for example, a gas spring, which is controllable to cause said angle adjustment between the seat and the back of the piece of furniture, and a second actuator, for example, a gas spring, which is controllable to cause upward ' tilting of the leg rest, and wherein said first and second actuators are controllable from one single, common control lever or control handle via a control fitting which has

manipulator cable run to each actuator. Advantageously, the leg rest is spring-biased in connection to a dead centre linkage construction.

It is also important in connection with such an adjustable piece of seating and reclining furniture that it has suitable arm rests which feel comfortable to use for the user of the piece of furniture, regardless of the selected mutual angle between the seat and the back, and according to one embodiment, these arm rests are each configured as a hoop-like, forward facing frame, the frame having a rear part which at the top is pivotally fastened to a first end of a connecting link, the second end of the connecting link being pivotally fastened to the back frame, the rear part of the back frame at the bottom being pivotally connected to a fitting which extends upwards from the base of the piece of furniture.

In one particular embodiment, it is conceived that the frame of the arm rest has a D-like configuration, where the upright of the D has a backward tilted position, the upright at its upper end being pivotally fastened to a first end of a connecting link, the second end of the connecting link being pivotally fastened to the back frame, wherein the arm rest at a distance forward of the lower end of the upright is pivotally connected to a fitting that extends up from the chair base, and wherein the D has a curved portion that faces upwards to form a resting portion for a chair user's arm.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a first schematic diagram of an adjustable piece of seating and reclining furniture according to the invention, with foot/leg rest and with the seat and the back in a first position relative to one another.

Fig. 2 shows the piece of seating and reclining furniture in Fig. 1 with the seat and the back in a second position relative to one another.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a second schematic diagram of an adjustable piece of seating and reclining furniture according to the invention, without foot/leg rest and with the seat and the back in a first position relative to one another

Fig. 4 shows the piece of seating and reclining furniture in Fig. 1 with the seat and the back in a second position relative to one another.

Fig. 5 shows the use of a motor instead of a gas spring for adjusting the angle between the back and the seat of the piece of seating and reclining furniture.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the adjustable piece of seating and reclining furniture with foot/leg 5 rest seen in perspective from the rear and from the front, respectively.

Figs. 1 and 2 show an adjustable piece of seating and reclining furniture where the angle between the seat 1 and the back 2 of the piece of furniture is selectable and steplessly adjustable. On each side of the piece of furniture there is located a fitting 4 extending o up from its base 3. The seat is tiltable about a forward suspension point 5 on the fitting 4, whilst the back is tiltable about a rear suspension point 6 on the fitting 4. It will be seen that the forward suspension point 5 is located higher than the rear suspension point 6.

s When the back 2 is caused to tilt backwards, for example, from an angle αl relative to the vertical as shown in Fig. 1 to an angle α2 as shown in Fig. 2, this will cause the seat to tilt backwards relative to this, for example, from an angle βl as shown in Fig. 1 to an angle β2 as shown in Fig. 2. For the case where said piece of seating and reclining furniture is provided with a neck rest 7, the angle that the neck rest 7 forms with the o back 2 is caused to change from, for example, an angle γl as shown in Fig. 1 to an angle γ2 as shown in Fig. 2.

In the illustrated example αl = 23.7°; α2 = 63.9°; βl = 9.4°; β2 = 23.4°; γl = 169.5°; γ2 = 141.1°. These are the currently preferred, mutually related angle values, but it will be 5 understood that the mutual angle ratios, i.e., αl : βl : γl and α2: β2: γ2, may of course be changed due to requirements, fine adjustment possibilities and structural changes.

To obtain a coordinated and controlled movement, a link 8 is provided which is pivotally fastened to a rear part 9 of the seat 1 frame 1' and pivotally fastened to a lower 0 part 10 of the back 2 frame 2'. Figs. 3 and 4 show a link 8' which has a slightly longer length than the link 8 and which is fastened to a rear part 9' of the seat frame 1 " and is pivotally fastened to a lower part 10' of the back frame 2'. Common to both solutions is that the pivotal connection 10; 10' of the link 8; 8' to the back frame 2' is located behind and below said rear suspension point 6. 5

For both solutions of link 8; 8', the pivotal connection of the link to the seat frame 1 '; 1 " will be located flush approximately in the region of the rear suspension point 6,

preferably at a short distance behind the rear suspension point, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or preferably at a short distance above and behind the rear suspension point, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It will be seen that the configuration and position of the link 8; 8' relative to the suspension points for the seat and the back, respectively, will be determining for the extent to which the seat will tilt backwards when the back tilts backwards. The choices made in this connection could be determined by the typical range of use of the piece of furniture.

To set the angle α between the seat 1 and the back 2, there may be used, for example, a controllable gas spring 11 as shown in Figs. 1-4, or a controllable electric motor 12 as shown in Fig. 5. hi a per se known way, the gas spring 11 or the motor 12 at one end is articulatedly fastened to the base of the piece of furniture 3 by a fitting 13 that is placed between the fittings 4. The other end of the gas spring 11 or the motor 12 is connected to the back 2 and its frame T via link 14 and an associated fastener 15.

On studying the position and function of the link 8; 8', it will be understood that when the back 2 moves backwards, the pivotal connection 10; 10' of the link to the back frame 2' will move forwards and downwards, which will then cause the pivotal connection 9; 9' of the link 8; 8' to the rear part of the seat to be pulled downwards so that the seat 1 tilts backwards about the suspension point 5.

The neck rest 7 has a frame 7' which is hinge-connected at 16 to an upper part of the back 2" of the piece of furniture, the neck rest frame at the hinge connection 16 with the back having a forward facing arm 17 which forms an articulated connection 18 with a rod 19 extending down along the back. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rod 19 is at its lower end articulated to a forward facing arm 20 on an elongate fitting 21, the fitting close to this arm being pivotally connected at 22 to the back frame 2'. The fitting 21 extends forwards towards the forward part of the seat 1 and there is articulated 23 to a tiltable leg/foot rest frame 24. The foot/ leg rest frame 24 is pivotally connected at 25 to the forward part of the seat frame, so that on an increase of the angle α between the seat and the back, the neck rest 7 is caused to tilt forwards about the hinge connection 16, whilst the leg rest 24 tilts up.

In the alternative solution shown in Figs. 3 an 4, where a foot/leg rest is not used, the rod 19 at its lower end is articulated at 26 to an upright arm 27 fastened to the rear part

of the seat frame 1 ", so that an increase in the angle α between the seat and the back tilts the neck rest 7 forwards relative to the back 2 about the hinge connection 16. This happens because the arm 26 is almost stationary in the longitudinal direction of the piece of furniture and, consequently, the rod 19 will cause pulling on the arm 17 and thus tilting of the neck rest 7.

The piece of seating and reclining furniture as shown and explained in connection with Figs. 1 - 5 is shown in perspective in Figs. 6 and 7. The piece of furniture is provided with a foot/leg rest 24 that is pivotally connected at 25 to a forward part of the seat frame, and where a first gas spring, i.e., the gas spring 11, is controllable to cause said angle adjustment, and where a second gas spring 28 is controllable to cause upward tilting of the leg rest 24. The first gas spring 11 and the second gas spring 28 are controllable from one single, common control lever or control handle 29 via a control fitting which has manipulator cable 31; 32 run to the respective gas spring 11; 28. This facilitates the control of the functions of the piece of furniture considerably, i.e., that only one handle is needed for both functions. If the gas spring 11 is replaced by an electric motor drive 12, this single handle solution will be usable with a technical modification. Even in the case where the gas spring 28 is replaced by an electric motor drive, this single handle solution will work. Choice of actuator is therefore not decisive for the single handle principle according to the invention.

The leg rest 24 is suspended from a dead centre link construction 33, and to assist the gas spring 28 when the leg rest is moved to/from a position of use as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it is expedient to allow the foot/leg rest to be biased by springs 34, 35.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7, the arms rests of the piece of seating and reclining furniture may consist of two parts 36, 37, the first part 36 extending forward from a pivotal connection 38 with the seat back frame 2' and at its front end being pivotally connected at 39 to a second part 37 which extends downward and is pivotally connected at 40 to the seat frame 1 '. It will be seen that the arm rest part 36 will thus be at approximately the same inclination to the seat regardless of the angle between them.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a slightly different solution as regards the arm rest of the piece of seating and reclining furniture. The arm rest in configured with a hoop-like, for example, almost D-like forward-facing frame 41. The frame has a rear part 41 ' which, at the top, at 41" is pivotally fastened to a first end 42 of a connecting link 43, the second end 44 of the connecting link being pivotally fastened to the back frame 2'. The

rear part of the frame is at the bottom 41 '" pivotally connected at a point 45 to a fitting 4 which extends up from the base of the piece of furniture. The frame 41 of the arm rest may, for example, have a D-like configuration where the "upright" 41' of the D has a backward tilted position. The upright 41 ' is thus at its upper end 41 " pivotally fastened

5 to the link 43, the link 43 at its other end being pivotally fastened at 44 to the back frame 2'. The arm rest at a distance forwards from the lower end 41 '" of the upright will be pivotally connected at a pivot point 45 to the fitting 4 of the piece of furniture. The most curved portion of the D faces upwards, as can be seen clearly from Figs. 3 and 4. The curved portion on which a user of the piece of the furniture rests his arms will io have approximately the same position relative to the back when the back is tilted, but will change its position relative to the seat. Although these figures show a D-like configuration of the frame 41, it will be understood that other shapes are conceivable. Of course, the frame will be capable of being padded where the user is to rest his arm, and the frame can also be wholly or partly covered.

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