This invention refers to an automatic reclining seat designed for use in the manufacturing of deck chairs, armchairs (for outdoors or indoors), seats, easy chairs, sofas, beds, etc.
The main request for a reclining or reclining seat is simply for it to be practical and comfortable. The back reclining facility of a reclining seat offers a variety angles so the user can attain the most comfortable position. A seat of this type is described, for example, in document
As a result of these defects, some inventors have redesigned the foldable reclining seat to correct the aforementioned problems. Chinese patent number
Patent
However, conventional reclining chairs or seats need to be manipulated by the user in order to adjust the recline angle, which is normally limited to a series of positions. In this invention, a chair is described that can be automatically reclined to the desired angle safely and comfortably, simply with the user's weight, without having to manipulate the reclining mechanism.
An other reclining seat is known from
This invention relates to an automatic reclining seat, made up of three main elements: a bedplate, made up of the base of the seat and the back rest and the reclining mechanism.
The bedplate is the structure or element that supports the assembly formed by the base of the seat and the back rest, both of which are joined to the reclining mechanism. The structure or bedplate has four support points that support the assembly formed by the base of the seat and the back rest: Two rotating points on each side of the front part of the seat and two support points that slide along a rail-guide, also on each side, but in this case on the upper rear part of the bedplate. This rail-guide can be attached to the side of the bedplate or it can form a part thereof, which is decided during the manufacturing process.
The base of the seat and the back rest are the elements that support the user's body and they are joined together sharing a supporting point; the base of the seat and the back rest can be joined together by means of a hinge mechanism between the two parts, either with a hinge directly incorporated into both elements or with hinges joined laterally or any other type of hinge mechanism.
The base of the seat consists of two floating supporting points shared with the back rest and situated at the ends of the axle that joins the back rest with the base.
The back rest is supported by the two aforementioned floating support points and by another two points supported by springs and joined at the lower end to the reclining mechanism.
The two floating support points that are shared by the base of the chair and the back rest are attached to the reclining mechanism. The reclining mechanism includes a connecting rod joined at one end to each floating point and at the other end it is equipped with a wheel or ferrule that is supported on a rail-guide and along which it can run or slide respectively.
The back rest is supported on the connecting rod with the help of the spring, which enables the back rest to move more or less together with the connecting rod that supports it, in such a way that the point of balance is re-established by allowing the connecting rod to get as close as possible to the body's centre of gravity.
The back rest is always supported on the spring, enabling the distance between the wheel or ferrule at the end of the connecting rod and the back rest to vary in accordance with the weight and the physical constitution of each user. The varying degree of pressure on the spring, depending on the weight of each user results in the distance increasing or decreasing in such a way that the wheel or ferrule follows the centre of gravity of that person and restores the balance.
The mechanism simultaneously enables the back rest to be lowered and the base of the seat to return to its horizontal position, in a reclining movement or angle from the normal position (seated) to the horizontal position (reclined) and also return to the original position.
When we refer to the base of the seat returning to a horizontal position, it is because in the normal position (seated), the base of the seat is slightly tilted downwards in the direction of the back rest, forming an approximate angle of 10° with the horizontal, while the back rest is slightly tilted forming an approximate angle of 15° with the vertical, guaranteeing maximum comfort.
The hinge mechanism of the base of the seat with the back rest will be equipped with a bolt that enables the automatic reclining seat to be blocked in the reclined position, offering users the possibility of using it in a face down position. It is unblocked by simply pressing on the head of the bolt. This hinge mechanism or joint is made up of two leaves, one coupled to the back rest and the other to the seat.
This automatic reclining seat is designed for use in the manufacturing of deck chairs, armchairs (for outdoors or indoors), seats, easy chairs, sofas, beds, etc. and it is designed to enable the abovementioned items to be used and enjoyed without having to manipulate levers or mechanisms for intermediate positions, in such a way that users can slide backwards or forwards, completely uniformly and continuously, reaching a stable position at any intermediate point and enabling users to enjoy maximum comfort.
The position is easily changed by gently pushing backwards on the back rest or gently leaning forward until the desired position is reached. Regardless of when the user stops pushing, the seat will remain in a stable and balanced position. This balanced position is achieved by means of a sliding supporting point which is able to follow the body's centre of gravity.
Below are some diagrams with their descriptions that will help to explain the invention and which are expressly related to a preferred embodiment of said invention and are presented by way of example but not limited thereto:
In order to gain a better understanding of the invention, below is a detailed description of the reclining seat that is the subject matter of the invention based on the diagrams. Diagrams 1 and 2 represent the seat in an armchair and a deck chair format respectively.
As shown, the automatic reclining seat is assembled on a structure or bedplate (E), which supports it. The base of the seat (S) and the back rest (R) are joined together by their two adjoining edges sharing the same axle (z-z') with hinges. The bedplate will be different in each case, depending on whether it is a deck chair, an armchair, an easy chair, etc., as shown in diagrams 1 and 2. The support points that are described shall have a fixed position between them on any of the bedplates and on any of the different designs in each case.
The structure or bedplate (E) has four support points that support the assembly formed by the base of the seat and the back rest: Two rotating points (A, A') on both sides of the front part of the seat that rotate on the axle (x-x') and two support points that slide along a rail-guide (G and G'), also on both sides, but in this case on the upper back part of the bedplate. This rail-guide is also attached by its ends (1-1' and 2-2') to the bedplate (E). The aforementioned rail-guide (G and G') may be attached sideways to the bedplate (E) or it may directly form part of the bedplate (E), as decided during the manufacturing process.
Diagrams 3 to 6 schematically represent the automatic reclining mechanism including in each case: a leaf spring mechanism, a helical spring, a compression spring and a drive spring assembly respectively. The automatic reclining mechanism represented is for one of the sides, since both sides are symmetrical. When reference is made to the points of the opposing sides (A', B', etc.) diagrams 1 and 2 can be viewed.
The reclining mechanism is that which supports the base of the seat (S) and the back rest (R).
This mechanism is made up of a connecting rod (H) equipped at one of its ends with a wheel (r) or ferrule (q), which slides along the rail-guide (G, G'). The other end has floating points (C, C') that act as a joint between the seat (S) and the back rest (R) and which slide along an arch, the centre of which is on the rotating supporting points (A, A') of the seat (S).
The seat (S) is therefore supported on four points, its two front apexes to the structure via fixed rotating elements (A and A'), and on its two rear apexes hinged to the back rest, by floating support points (C and C'), which in turn are supported by the connecting rod (H) on the rail-guide (G).
The back rest (R) is also supported by four points, two at its lower apexes to the seat, on the floating support points (C and C') as mentioned in the preceding paragraph and the other two back rest support points (D and D') which do so on a spring (M) which may be a leaf spring (Mb, as shown in diagrams 1, 2 and 3), a coil spring (Me, as shown in diagram 4), a compression spring (Mc, diagram 5) or a drive spring (Mt, diagram 6). The effect is the same in each case.
The manufacturing process shall determine which of these is the most suitable in each case. The back rest (R) leans on the abovementioned connecting rod (H) with the help of the spring (M), which enables the back rest (R) to be moved forward more or less together with the connecting rod (H) that supports it so the point of balance is re-established by allowing the connecting rod to get as close as possible to the body's centre of gravity.
In the case of a leaf spring (Mb) or a coil spring (Me), one of the ends would be attached between the floating support point (C) and the cotter (P) situated on the bottom part of the connecting rod (H), as shown in diagrams 3, 4 and 9. At the opposite end, the leaf (Mb) or coil (Me) springs are anchored in both cases to the back rest (R) at the support point (D) by an eyelet or a sliding joint. A cap (n) will be inserted between the back rest and the connecting rod (H), which will limit the maximum opening between the back rest (R) and the connecting rod (H) and which in turn will ensure the spring (M) is not overloaded.
For a compression spring (Mc), as shown in diagram 5, it is guided by a rod (v) attached in turn to the connecting rod (H) at a connecting point (u) by a rotating joint, while the other end of said rod (v) remains free. The rod (v) goes through an eyelet at the support point (D) that is attached to the back rest (R).
For a drive spring (Mt), as shown in diagram 6, it is anchored to the body of the connecting rod (H) and to the back rest (R) at the support point (D) as shown.
The back rest (R) is always supported on the spring (M), enabling the distance (d) between the back rest (R) and the upper end of the connecting rod (H) that slides along the rail guide (G) to vary in accordance with the weight and physical constitution of each user. More or less pressure on the spring, depending on the weight of the user, makes the distance (d) increase or decrease so the wheel (r) or ferrule (q) coincides with the centre of gravity of the person, restoring the balance. All the variations of springs (M) may be used pursuant to the structural interest at all times.
Diagrams 7, 8, 9 and 10 show the mechanism equipped with a leaf spring in the construction plans.
Diagram 7 shows the connecting rod (H) equipped with a wheel (r) system that rides along the rail-guide (G), while
The hinge is made up of two leaves: One leaf (J) coupled with the Back rest (R) and the leaf (K) coupled with the base of the seat (S).
Diagram 9 shows a leaf spring (Mb) the upper part of which is housed in the housing (F) situated at the upper end of the hinge leaf (J) coupled to the back rest.
Diagram 10 shows the hinge assembly (J, K) and the pawl (T) which is situated on each side of the seat and which enables the automatic reclining seat to be blocked in the reclined position, also allowing users to use it in a face-down position. It is unblocked by simply pressing on the head of the pawl (T).
The rotating centre of the hinge assembly, represented in diagram 10, is at the point (C) coinciding with the axle (z-z'), attached to the assembly formed by the base of the seat (S) and the back rest (R), so the hinge leaf (J) is coupled with the Back rest (R) and the hinge leaf (K) is coupled with the base of the seat (S).
As the hinge leaf (J) is coupled with the back rest, it is equipped with the housing (F) which enables the leaf (Mb) or coil (Me,) spring to be joined to the back rest through it.
The hinge leaf (K) is a symmetrical component equipped with the cap (t) that limits how far the leaf (J) can travel. The symmetrical design enables it to be used for both sides.
The pawl (T) on the other hand, is attached to the hinge leaf (K) by means of an axle (s); this pawl enables the assembly formed by the seat and the back rest to be blocked in a horizontal position as shown in the aforementioned diagram.
The angle (a) is the recline angle from the sitting position to the reclined position; this movement is limited by the cap (t) in both directions.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.