Technical field
[0001] This invention relates to a relaxation type armchair with wings in the backrest,
of the type known in the state of the art as "wingback relaxation".
State of the prior art
[0002] Relaxation armchairs are known in the state of the art, which are presented with
two well differentiated options: (a) relaxation armchairs wherein the backrest tilts
backwards, requiring a free space where the backrest tilts backwards; and (b) armchairs
known as "zero wall" armchairs, which are those wherein, at the same time as the backrest
tilts backwards, both the backrest and the seat move forwards, without the armrests
moving. In this way, "zero wall" relaxation armchairs or sofas can be placed up against
a wall when they open, avoiding the need to leave a space behind.
[0003] Regardless of whether the relaxation sofa or armchair is of type (a) or (b) mentioned
in the previous paragraph, all designs of relaxation armchairs that have wings need
to make an inclined or curved cut between the armrest and the wing in order to allow
the backrest to tilt backwards. However, in "zero wall" relaxation armchairs, as the
seat and backrest move forward and the armrests are fixed, it is not possible to have
wings as they would bump into the armrests when they are opened. The only option known
in the state of the art is to design tapering wings that allow this forward opening
movement without them colliding with the armrests.
[0004] In short, all relaxation-type armchairs with wings, or wingback, must, by necessity,
have split wings. Furthermore, this split wing must be connected to the backrest,
while the armrest, at its lower part, must be connected to the base. This structure
is due to the fact that, when the backrest is tilted backwards, the measurement between
the front of the armchair and the upper part of the wing changes because the distance
is much greater when the backrest is tilted backwards.
[0005] Therefore, a new design is needed for a wingback relaxation-type armchair that overcomes
the design constraints indicated in the previous paragraphs, particularly, the need
to make a cut between the armrest and the wing which, in certain types of armchairs,
is technically and aesthetically unfeasible. This technical problem is solved with
the relaxation armchair of the attached claims, as explained below in this specification.
Explanation of the invention
[0006] One object of this invention is the manufacture of a relaxation armchair of the wingback
type which does not have the technical and aesthetic disadvantages of currently known
relaxation armchairs. In particular, it is desired to avoid the use of cuts between
the armrest and backrest. To this end, it is assumed that, in the current state of
the art, in relaxation armchairs, the backrests are always connected to the seat and,
if they are wingback, the wing must necessarily be connected to the backrest.
[0007] However, this invention overcomes the problems indicated in the state of the art
due to the fact that it has been possible for the wing to always be attached to the
backrest and for it to pivot when it opens on the seat, thus achieving a series of
advantageous technical effects compared to those known in the state of the art.
[0008] Firstly, it is possible to manufacture relaxation armchairs with wings without the
need for a separation cut between the wing and the armrest. This fact, in addition
to the simplicity of construction, has an obvious aesthetic effect, since a design
is achieved which, when open, maintains the same aesthetic line as when closed. In
other words, the same aesthetic line is maintained, regardless of whether it is open
or closed. Finally, by avoiding the use of separation cuts, during use, possible entrapment
between the wing and the armrest is avoided during the closing operation of the relaxation
armchair. All these advantages and objectives are achieved with the armchair of claim
1. In the dependent claims, particular or preferred solutions of the armchair are
described.
[0009] More specifically, in a first aspect of the invention, the pivoting wingback relaxation
armchair comprises a seat, a backrest and two armrests, left and right, each of which
has, on its upper part, two wings, left and right, which are structurally integrated
into their respective wings, a footrest and a foot that supports and balances the
whole of the armchair on the floor; and wherein the armchair comprises an extendable
mechanism configured to move the seat, the backrest and the footrest between two extreme
positions, open and closed, such that between these two extreme positions, the extendable
mechanism adopts at least one intermediate position.
[0010] The armchair has the particularity that each wing and its corresponding armrest form
a single unit that is connected to the backrest by means of a pivoting upper axis
located in the upper part of the wing, while the lower part of the unit formed by
the armrest and the wing is mobile by means of at least one lower pivot that can be
moved along at least one curvilinear guide, in such a way that when the backrest begins
to tilt backwards, the armrest pivots with respect to the guides and the upper pivot
axis in such a way that the unit formed by each armrest and its corresponding wing
remains static, regardless of the position adopted by the extendable mechanism.
[0011] In a particular embodiment, the armchair that is the object of this invention comprises
two lower pivots, each of which can be moved along its corresponding curvilinear guide.
[0012] Throughout the description and the claims, the word «comprises» and its variants
are not intended to exclude other technical characteristics, additives, components
or steps. To those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages and characteristics
of the invention will become apparent, in part from the invention and in part from
using the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration
and are not intended to restrict this invention. Furthermore, the invention covers
all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments indicated herein.
Brief description of the drawings
[0013] The following is a very brief description of a series of drawings that help to understand
the invention better and which relate expressly to one embodiment of said invention,
which is illustrated as a non-limiting example thereof.
[0014] FIG.1 shows the pivoting wingback relaxation armchair that is the object of this
invention in the initial position with the relaxation mechanism closed; FIG.2 shows
the pivoting wingback relaxation armchair that is the object of this invention in
the intermediate or opening position; and FIG.3 shows the pivoting wingback relaxation
armchair that is the object of this invention in the final open position, i.e., with
the relaxation mechanism open.
Detailed explanation of one embodiment of the invention
[0015] As indicated, the attached figures show the armchair of the invention in three different
positions: (a) initial position with the relaxation mechanism closed (figure 1); (b)
intermediate or open position (figure 2) in side view (FIG.2A) and perspective (FIG.2B);
and (c) final open position, i.e., with the relaxation mechanism open (figure 3) in
side view (FIG.3A) and perspective (FIG.3B).
[0016] Referring to all the attached figures, the relaxation-type armchair (1) comprises
a seat (2), a backrest (3), and two armrests (4) -left and right-, each of which has,
on its upper part, two wings (5) -also left and right- which are structurally integrated
into their respective armrests (4). Finally, the armchair (1) is completed with a
footrest (6) and a foot (7) that supports and balances the whole armchair (1) on the
floor.
[0017] As is known in the state of the art, the relaxation armchair (1) comprises an extendable
mechanism configured to move the mobile parts (i.e., the seat (2), the backrest (3)
and the footrest (6)) between two extreme positions, such as the closed position represented
in figure 1 and the open position represented in figure 3. Between these two extreme
positions, the extendable mechanism adopts different intermediate positions at the
whim of the user and exemplified in figure 2.
[0018] In other words, when it passes from the closed position (FIG.1) to the intermediate
position (FIG.2), if the armrest (4) with the wing (5) were connected in one piece
to the seat (2), the wing (5) would be straight, and the backrest would protrude from
behind the armchair. However, if the wing (5) were connected to the backrest (3),
the armrest (4) would be higher and therefore more uncomfortable, as shown in the
dashed line of FIG.2A.
[0019] The innovation of this invention consists, however, in the fact that the wing (5)
and the armrest (4) form a single unit that is connected to the backrest (3) by means
of a pivoting axis (8) in the upper part of the wing (5), while, in the lower part,
a system of pivots (9) inserted into respective curvilinear guides (10), when the
backrest (3) begins to tilt backwards, ensure that the armrest (4) pivots with respect
to the guides (10) so that the armrest (4) remains in the same position as when the
armchair is closed.
[0020] However, the advantage over the current state of the art is best seen in FIG.3, which
illustrates the open or extended position of the armchair. In FIG.3A, with a dashed
line, we can see the position the armrest (4) would have if it were fixed and how,
when dropped on the guides (10) thanks to the oscillating system represented by the
upper (8) and lower pivots (9), the armrest (4) is kept in the initial position -that
is, the same position it is in when the armchair is closed-which is the most comfortable
and usable position.
1. A pivoting wingback relaxation armchair (1) comprising a seat (2), a backrest (3),
and two armrests (4), left and right, each one of which has, on its upper part, two
wings (5), left and right, which are structurally integrated into their respective
armrests (4), a footrest (6) and a foot (7) that supports and balances the whole armchair
(1) on the floor; and wherein the armchair (1) comprises an extendable mechanism configured
to move the seat (2), the backrest (3) and the footrest (6) between two extreme positions,
open and closed, in such a way that, between these two extreme positions, the extendable
mechanism adopts at least one intermediate position;
the armchair (1) being characterised in that each wing (5) and its corresponding armrest (4) form a single unit that is connected
to the backrest (3) by means of an upper pivoting axis (8) located in the upper part
of the wing (5), while, in the lower part of the unit formed by the armrest (4) and
the wing (5), it is mobile by means of at least one lower pivot (9) that can be moved
along at least one curvilinear guide (10), in such a way that when the backrest (3)
begins to tilt backwards, the armrest (4) pivots with respect to the guide (10) and
the upper pivoting axis (8), in such a way that the unit formed by each armrest (4)
and its wing (5) remains static, regardless of the position of the extendable mechanism.
2. The armchair (1) according to claim 1 comprising two lower pivots (9) each one of
which is movable along its corresponding curvilinear guide.