Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a recliner chair having a movable back support portion and leg rest. Background to the Invention

Different types of recliner chairs are known in various applications such as on aircraft, in dentistry, in hairdressing and for recreational activities.

Typical passenger seats on aircraft have a reclining back portion operable by a button located on the arm rest. Generally, a passenger wishing to recline the back portion pushes the button with a finger and uses his weight to move the back of the chair to the reclined position. To reverse the process, the passenger simply sits forward and presses the button again which returns the back portion to the upright position.

Recreational recliner chairs are generally operated by means of a levered handle. The handle is usually positioned on the side of the chair, near the base of the chair. The user generally has to extend his or her arm over the side of the chair to reach the handle. The handle is usually operated by the user pulling the lever towards himself or herself. After operating the handle, the user's own weight is usually then used to recline the back portion of the chair. Movement of the back portion of the chair from the reclined position to the upright position is then facilitated by the user moving the handle in the opposite direction (i.e. pushing it).

^• Such operation of the handle can be awkward for a user as the direction in which the handle is pulled or pushed is basically the same as the direction in which the user's upper body is to move. This can make it difficult (particularly for elderly or frail persons) to apply the necessary force to operate the handle. In other words, it would be easier to operate a handle which is designed to move in the opposite direction to the user's body, so that the user's own weight can be used as the necessary opposing force.

In more sophisticated versions of aircraft seats (for instance, those used in the first class sections of an aircraft) the seat may further have an extendable/retractable leg support which is adapted to be raised and lowered. Recreational recliner chairs and other similar types of chairs also often have a leg support which is extendable/retractable upon operation of a handle such as described above. Movement of the leg support is usually simultaneous with movement of the back portion of the chair.

When in use, the leg support is extended upwardly to a substantially horizontal position so that the user's feet and legs extend outwardly from the chair in a comfortable position.

When not in use, the leg-rest support of many such chairs is usually positioned substantially vertically near the front part of the chair which prevents the user's feet from being able to be positioned beneath the chair if so desired. Some users find this uncomfortable and irritating. Typical dentists' and hairdressers' chairs also generally have reclining back sections and leg support sections which operate in a manner similar to that described above. It will be obvious that in these two instances there is a need for a person to be reclined in a comfortable position for significant periods of time. In view of these needs, electrically driven chairs have been developed, however these are expensive and not easily transportable.

Dentists' and hairdresser's chairs also generally need to be operated by the dentist or hairdresser rather than the person seated. In such cases it is important that the chair can be operated conveniently and quickly.

Hairdressers' and dentists' chairs are, in some instances, connected to a wash basin. However, the basin is brought to a comfortable position for the person seated either by movement of the basin on an arm (which may be hydraulic) or by movement of the chair relative to the person.

With the above problems in mind, the present invention is directed towards an improved recliner chair. Summary of Preferred Forms of the Invention

According to a first preferred embodiment of this invention there is provided a recliner chair including: a seat; a back support moveable between an upright position and a reclining position relative to the seat; a leg support moveable between a stowed position, which is entirely beneath the seat and clear of the front of the seat, and a support position; and actuation means adapted to move the back support between the upright and the reclining positions and to move the leg support between the stowed and the support positions.

Preferably the actuation means is operable rearward of the seat, and may include one or more levered arms. The levered arms may extend substantially longitudinally from the chair. One end lever arm is operable by a person standing behind the chair. Preferably the lever arm is operated by a foot of the user.

In another preferred form of this embodiment of the invention, the end lever arm or pedal arm may extend adjacent the rear of the chair so that it is operable by a person standing to the side of the chair. Preferably, the lever arm is operated by a foot of the user.

According to a second preferred embodiment of this invention the actuation means is located adjacent the seat and movable either away from the back support to recline the back support towards the reclining position or towards the back support to return the back support towards the upright position.

In a preferred form of this embodiment of the invention, the chair further includes a pair of arm rests adjacent the seat. In this arrangement the actuation means includes a handle located on or adjacent to at least one of the arm rests. Preferably, handles are provided on or adjacent to both of the arm rests.

In another preferred form of the invention, the recliner chair further includes a leg support moveable between a stowed position and a support position and the actuation means also actuates movement of the leg support between the stowed position and the support position. Desirably, the actuation means moves the back support and the leg support simultaneously.

In another preferred form of the invention, the leg support in the stowed position is entirely beneath the seat and clear of the front of the seat.

In another preferred form of the invention, the actuation means further includes a number of pivotally connected levers.

In another preferred form of the invention, the leg support includes a jockey wheel to facilitate movement of the leg support along the ground when being retracted into its stowed position.

Advantageously, the recliner chair of the present invention is used in conjunction with a wash basin, the wash basin being moveable longitudinally. Preferably, the wash basin is also capable of a tilting movement. More preferably, the wash basin is mounted on a movement means which includes a releasable locking mechanism to be able to releasably retain the wash basin in a desired longitudinal position relative to the recliner chair.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig 1 is a perspective view of the skeleton structure of a preferred form of the recliner chair of the present invention, the leg support being extended;

Fig 2 is a side view of the preferred form of the invention shown in Fig 1, showing the back portion of the recliner chair in the upright position;

Fig 3 is a side view of the recliner chair of Fig 2;

Fig 4 is a side view of the recliner chair of Fig 4, further including padding located on the skeleton structure;

Fig 5 is a side view of the recliner chair of Fig 4, further including padding, an arm-rest and covering material of the chair; Fig 6 is a side view of a second form of the recliner chair of the present invention;

Fig 6b is a side view of the basin support structure of Fig 6 showing the extension of the end lever arm to the side of the base;

Fig 7 is a perspective view of the skeleton structure of a first form of the upper portion of the basin support structure of Fig 6; Fig 8 is a rear view of one form of the releasable locking means used to releasably secure the basin in a desired position relative to the recliner chair;

Fig 9 is a top view of another form of the releasable locking means shown in Fig 8; and

Fig 10 is a rear view of yet another form of the releasable locking means of Fig 8.

Brief Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention A recliner chair is shown in Figure 1 having a reclinable back portion 4 and an extendable leg support portion 10 which operate in conjunction with one another by manipulating a levered arm 100 located rearwardly of the recliner chair.

A recliner chair is shown in Figures 1 to 3 having a reclinable back portion 4 and an extendable leg support portion 10 which operate in conjunction with one another by manipulating levered arms located adjacent the arm-rests of the chair. The chair has a fixed frame having four legs, la, lb, lc and Id and a horizontal seat portion having parallel bars 2a, 2b which respectively extend between legs la, lb and legs lc, Id. Support bars 2c, 2d extend between parallel bars 2a, 2b.

Triangular support frames 3a, 3b are positioned on the horizontal bars 2a, 2b, adjacent the rear legs lb, Id. The back portion 4 of the chair is rotatably mounted on the triangular support frames, 3a, 3b. The back portion 4 consists of an upright bar 4a, a cross bar 4b near the top of and extending transverse to the upright bar 4a, a tail portion 4c and a U-shaped pivoting piece 4d. The U-shaped pivoting piece 4d has two opposite parallel arms 4e, 4f rotatably connected by pins 5a and 5b to the triangular support sections 3a and 3b. A leg support portion 10 is rotatably mounted on the fixed frame and has two substantially parallel leg support bars 1 la, 1 lb each of which is rotatably connected to the top of legs la and lc respectively. Extension bars 12a, 12b are hingedly connected to leg support bars 11a, l ib. A connecting rod 13 spans the distant portions of extension bars 12a, 12b

and has (approximately midway between its ends) a wheel 14. For rigidity, a transverse bar 15 extends between bars 11a and 1 lb.

The back portion 4 and the leg support portion 10 of the chair are operated by manipulating handles 20a, 20b. The movement of the handles 20a, 20b operates a series of levers which move the back portion 4 and the leg support portion 10 of the chair.

Handles 20a, 20b are each rotatably mounted on upright bars 21a, 21b affixed to parallel bars 2a, 2b. The rotatable mounting is effected by means of pins 22a, 22b passing through the upright bars 21a, 21b and the handles 20a, 20b.

Adjacent a top end of each handle 20a, 20b is a hand piece 23a, 23b extending transverse the handle. The two handles 20a, 20b are joined at their lower ends by a connecting bar 52. Each handle is rotatably connected to one end of a first lever 24a, 24b which at the other end thereof is rotatably connected to a second lever 25a, 25b. Extending between the second lever 25a, 25b are transverse members 26 and 27 for rigidity. A third lever 28a, 28b is rotatably connected to distant ends of second lever 25a, 25b . Distant ends of the third lever 28a, 28b are rotatably connected to leg support bars 1 la, 1 lb.

As can be seen from figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, rotation of the handles 20a, 20b causes movement of the first lever 24a, 24b, the second lever 25a, 25b and the third lever 28a, 28b thereby causing the parallel leg support bars 11a, l ib to move from a retracted position to an extended position (or vice versa). The rotatable connections 30a, 30b between leg support bars 11a, l ib and extension bars 12a, 12b are such that, in the extended position, bars 11a and 12a (and bars l ib and 12b) will be at an angle of about 180° to each other (as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3) . In the retracted position, the angle between bars 11a and 12a (and l ib and 12b) is about 90°. The leg support portion 10 is held in the extended position by means of support bars 31a, 32a and 31b, 32b. When the leg support portion 10 is in the extended position, support bars 31a and 32a (and 31b and 32b) form a straight support rod by means of the rotatable connection 33a between bars 31a and 32a (and connection 33b between bars 31b and 32b) being adapted to restrict further rotation of the bars beyond an orientation of 180° to one another.

In order to move the leg support portion 10 from the extended position to the retracted position, use is made of retraction handles (40a, 40b). The retraction handles 40a, 40b are rotatably mounted on the parallel bar 2a, 2b, respectively. Distant ends of the retraction handles 40a, 40b are connected by a connecting rod 53. A distant portion of each handle 40a, 40b is rotatably connected to an end of arm 41a, 41b, respectively. The other end of each arm 41a, 41b is rotatably connected to a U-shaped frame 42. The U-shaped

frame 42 is rotatably connected to protrusions 43a, 43b of legs la, lc, respectively. Distant ends of the U-shaped frame 42 abut lower ends of support bars 32a and 32b so that as the U-shaped frame is rotated about connections 44a and 44b, support bars 32a and 32b are caused to rotate about connections 45a and 45b thereby causing bars 32a and 31a (and 32b and 31b) to rotate relative to one another causing the leg support portion 10 to retract. Further and complete retraction of the leg support frame 10 is effected by moving the hand portions 23a and 23b of the handles 20a and 20b back towards the back portion 4.

As the user moves the hand pieces 23a and 23b back towards the back portion 4, it tends to cause him to bring himself forward, which movement is further assisted by means of a piston 50 extending between transverse bar 26 and the tail 4c of the back portion 4 of the chair.

As can further be seen from figures 1, 2 and 3, each handle 20a, 20b has a coil spring 51a, 51b extending from the handle 20a, 20b to the U-shaped section 4d of the back portion 4. This coil spring 51a, 51b provides desired resistance as the back portion 4 is reclined. Similarly, when the back portion 4 is being returned to the upright position, the spring enables this to be done with less effort by the user.

This embodiment of the invention permits the back portion 4 of the chair to be reclined by movement in the opposite direction of the hand pieces 23a and 23b of the handles 20a and 20b which involves a natural pushing action by the user. This is a more natural movement compared with known recliner chairs.

As can be seen in Fig 2, when the leg support portion 10 is in the retracted position, the leg support portion 10 is positioned well within the recess defined by the four legs la, lb, lc and Id so that the feet of the user 10 may swing comfortably under the chair if so desired.

Figures 4 and 5 show the addition of padding to the skeleton structure of the previous figures. The skeleton structure has 4 cushions 60, 61, 62 and 63 located on it. One cushion 60 is located on the back portion 4, another cushion 61 is located on the seat and the other cushion 62 is located on the leg support portion 10. A further cushion 63 may be provided to support the upper leg of a user.

When the back portion 4 is in the reclined position, the lower back of the user is supported by the U-shaped pivoting piece 4d and the cushion 60 on the back portion 4.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, the handles 20a, 20b (shown in Figs 1 to 5) have been replaced by a pedal arm 100 which is operable by a person standing behind the chair. The pedal arm 100 is rotatably mounted and its horizontal component 101a is pivotally connected to lever arms 101b, 101c. Lever arm 101c links up with first lever 24a which at its distant end is rotatably connected to second lever 25a. The third lever 28a is rotatably connected to the distant end of second

lever 25a. The distant end of the third lever 28a is rotatably connected to leg support bar 11a.

Figure 6 also shows a basin support structure 200 with which the recliner chair co-operates. The basin support structure has a basin which is movable longitudinally of the recliner chair on basin support structure 200. The pedal arm 100 is hingedly supported by the support structure 200. The support structure 200 also supports a cable 102 which is connected to part of the chair to bias the back portion 4 towards the upright position and the leg support portion 10 to its retracted position.

The back portion 4 and the leg support portion 10 are moved from their upright/retracted positions (respectively) by depressing the pedal arm 100. The pedal arm 100 is adapted to be locked in its depressed position (or in any one of several depressed positions). The pedal arm 100 can then be raised by operating a release latch 201, which is located on the support structure 200.

Operation of the latch 201 also causes the back portion 4 to return to its upright position and the leg support portion 10 to return to its retracted position upon the influence of the cable 102. Pedal arm 100 returns to position 1 and is locked into position (thereby locking back portion 4 and leg support portion 10) by raising the pedal arm 100 slightly past position 1. Pedal arm 100 is biased towards one side of the recliner chair by a spring which causes the pedal arm 100 to engage a notch slightly above position 1. Pedal arm 100 preferably has a rubber sleeve to allow it to be operated by any of its surfaces without scuffing shoes etc.

Fig 6b shows the basin support structure 200 in another embodiment of the preferred form of the invention in Fig 6. In this embodiment, the pedal arm 100 has been replaced by a pedal arm 100b which is operable by a person standing beside the chair. The pedal arm 100b extends to the side of the basin support structure. It is rotatably connected to that support structure and its longitudinal component 101a is connected to a series of lever arms 101b, 101c as in Fig 6 and otherwise operates in the same manner as that described in respect of Fig 6.

Figs 7 and 8 show features of the embodiment of Fig 6 in greater detail. Here, the basin can move longitudinally of the recliner chair. The basin is mounted on a platform 203 which is fixed to an L-shaped bracket 204 having axles 206 extending therefrom which, in turn, have rotatably mounted thereon wheels 205. The wheels 205 run along tracks 207 a, 207b located underneath two sides of the platform 203, which tracks are mounted on the support structure 200. The bracket 204 on one side is releasably secured into position by a releasable locking means. The releasable locking means includes a stopper 208 which is connected to a

The bracket 204 on one side is releasably secured into position by a releasable locking means. The releasable locking means includes a stopper 208 which is connected to a substantially U-shaped member 209. A coil spring 210 is secured at one end to frame 200 by member 212 and at the other end to member 209, by means of lug 211 to bias the member 209 to the left, to force stopper 208 into contact with bracket 204.

In order to release the stopper 208, pressure is applied by the user to the outer end 213 of the U-shaped member 209. This forces member 209 to the right against the spring 210 thereby releasing the stopper 208 from contact with bracket 204. The platform 203 can then be moved along the tracks 207 to the desired position. Release of the pressure on outer end 213 of member 209 causes member 209 to move to the left under the influence of spring 210 to thus force stopper 208 against bracket 204. This holds platform 203 in position relative to support structure 200.

Figure 9 shows a variation of the embodiment of figure 6, whereby a lever arm 220, pivotally attached to bracket 221 on structure 200, is rotatably attached to member 209. Movement to the left of outer end 222 of arm 220 causes movement to the right of member 209 against the spring 210. In all other respects, the embodiment of figure 9 is the same as that of figure 8.

Figure 10 is a further variation of the preferred embodiment in Figs 7 and 8 in which the brackets 204a, 204b on both sides of the platform 203 are secured into position by the same means as described in Figs 7 and 8 except that members 209a, 209b are rotatably connected to lever arms 230a, 230b which are in turn rotatably connected to a lever 231. Lever 231 has a handle 232 protruding upwards at the rear of the basin support structure 200. The pressure exerted by coil springs 210a, 210b at the point of contact where stoppers 208a, 208b abut brackets 204a, 204b respectively, are released when the user pushes handle 232 to his left which allows the basin mounted on the platform 203 to move along the tracks 207a, 207b. It is only necessary to release the handle 232 to secure the platform 203 into its new position.

As will be appreciated, the above recliner chair is adapted for use in many situations such as in recreational chairs, aircraft seats, as well as chairs for use in hairdressing, dental or other practices where persons sitting in the chair may need to be reclined. The recliner chair of this invention is easy to operate, effective and comfortable.