US1751600A - Convertible chair - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1930. Y J. K. PRASSAS 1,751,600

I CONVERTIBLE CHAIR Original Filed Feb. 28, 1927 o n w I E m I. J: u h- FF N m N H v NHNM m\ Patented Mar. 25, 1930 JOHN K. PRASSAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Original application filed February 28,

This invention relates to a convertible chair arranged for seating, lounging or sleepmg purposes. v

This application is adivisionof my applicatipn Serial No. 171,410, filed February 28, 192

An object of the present invention is to provide a chair having a back rest so constructed as to be capable ofready and convenient adjustmentto any desired position.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a chair so constructed v as to; be converted into a lounging or sleeping chair, with novel means for adjusting the back rest. 7

The above, other and furtherobj ects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, drawings and appended claims.

According to the invention, the backrest is pivoted to the chair frame so as to be lowered into horizontal position. 3 A sprocket chain passing over a sprocket wheel in a rear leg is moved in a direction to raise the back rest by means of a spring connected 5 to the chain and to the chair frame. A detent, controlled from any convenient place in the chair, normally keeps the sprocket wheel from rotation, thereby retaining the back rest in any adjusted position. v

The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of the invention and the views thereof are as follows: 1

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a convertible chair.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the chair in Figurel. Q Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially in the plane of line"III+III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is view thru the sprocket and detent casing.

Figure 5 is a partial horizontal section on line VV of Figure 4. r

The drawings show a wooden armchair of 5 conventional outline comprising a seat 1, back an enlarged vertical sectionalv CONVERTIBLE CHAIR 1927, Serial No. 171,410. Divided and this application filed March Serial No. 263,228.

rest 2, side arms 3, legs 4: and horizontal frame members 5. q a r While the invention has been illustrated in connection with a wooden armchair, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto but is equally applicable to other types of chair, such as upholstered chairs'and the like. I v V The back rest 2 is pivoted to the rear legs 4 of the chair at 6 in a, manner to be swung 5 from normal position, such as that shown in Figure 1, to horizontal or any intermediate position. v 7 Means for raising and lowering the back rest include sprocket chains 7, each secured 0 to the back rest Qby means of eye-bolts 8 or similar fastening devices. The other ends of the chains 7 are connected at 9 to springs 10,

the lower'ends of which are secured at 11 to the chair frame structure.

Arranged near the upperends of the rear legs 4 are casings 12, each of which comprises side plates 13 and a rear end plate 14, which latter has a slot or recess 15 formed in the same thru which the chain 7 passes. The front end, i. erthe end at theright shown in Figure l of the drawings, is open.

In each of the casings 12 is arranged a sprocket wheel 16 disposed on a stub shaft 17 secured in the side walls 13 ofthe casing. The sprocket chain 7 is trained over the sprocket wheel 16. Below the sprocket wheel l6wis a vertically movable detent or pawl 18 having ahead 19, part of which is wedge-shaped, to enter between adjacent teeth of the sprocket wheel. A'lower head 20 is formed with the detent. v 1

The detent 18 is guided by guides 21 and 22 arranged between the side walls 13 of the casing and apertured to receive the head and shank respectively of the detent. A spring 7 23 is interposed between the upper surface of the lower guide 22 and the under side of the head 19 of the detent to urge the same upwardly into engagement with the sprocket wheel.

A lever 24 is pivoted at 25 in the casing 12 and has engagement with the lower head 20 of the detent. The outer end of the lever 24 engages the upper end of a vertically disposed rod 26, which rod is connected at its lower end to one arm 27 of a bell crank pivoted at 28 to the frame members of the chair.

A horizontal rod 29 is connected at one end to the other arm 30 of said bell crank and at its other end is connected to an arm 31 of a second bell crank pivoted at 32 to the chair frame. Another vertical rod 33 is connected at its lower end to the other arm 34 of said second bell crank. The upper end of the rod 33 terminates in a knob 35, which, in the present illustration, is arranged to reciprocate in a recess 36 in the upper surface of the side arms 3.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The back rest, in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, is retained in this position by engagement of the detent 18 and the sprocket wheel 16.

One sprocket wheel and chain and associated parts may be utilized if desired, altho two such are shown in the drawings of the present application.

When a person sitting in the chair is de sirous of moving the back rest into a position either horizontal or at a greater inclination than that shown in the drawing,

=- he depresses the knobs 35 in the side arms 3 of the chair, whereupon the detents 18 are released from engagement with the sprocket wheels.

When this release of the sprocket wheels occurs, the springs 10 tend to move the back rest 2 into substantially upright position. To overcome this resistance, the person pushes the back rest 2 backwardly into such position as he desires to have the same, thereupon releasing the knobs 35. The springs 23 then move the detents 18 upwardly into engagement with the sprocket wheel 16, thereby blocking the back rest 2 in that adjusted position.

When it is desired to return the back rest 2 to normal position, the knobs 35 are depressed, whereupon the springs 10 return the back rest to such normal position.

The side panels of the chair are hollow, with the chains 7 springs 9 and the detent actuating levers within the hollow side panels of the chair.

The detents 18 are vertically moved by means of the rods 26, 29 and 33 connected to the bell cranks and the pivoted lever 24:.

It will be observed that the mechanism for controlling the position of the back rest 2 is completely concealed within the frame of the chair, while the knobs 35 are readily accessible to anyone sitting or reclining in the chair.

The lever 24 may be connected to the detent 18 at any point in the length of the same.

The knobs 35 may be placed in any convenient position in the chair arms in positions other than that shown in the drawings.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A convertible chair comprising a chair frame, a back rest pivoted to said frame to swing rearwardly into horizontal position, a sprocket casing, a sprocket wheel, a sprocket chain trained over said wheel and fastened at one end to said back rest, a spring connecting the other end of said chain to said frame below the axis of said sprocket to retain said chain always in mesh with said sprocket, a spring-pressed detent normally in engagement with said sprocket to prevent rotation thereof, a plurality of levers arranged to rest said detent to allow movement of said back release, a lever pivoted at one end to the sprocket casing and connected intermediate its ends to said detent, a vertically disposed rod connected at its upper end to the other end of said lever and at its lower end to a bell crank, a horizontally disposed rod connected at one end to said ball crank and at its other end to a second bell crank, a second vertically disposed rod connected at its lower end to said second bell crank, and a knob on said second vertical lever for actuating the same.

2. A convertible chair comprising a chair frame, a back rest pivoted to said frame to swing rearwardly into horizontal position, a sprocket wheel, a sprocket chain trained over said wheel and fastened to said back rest at a point below the axis of said wheel, a spring connected to the other end of said chain and fastened to the chair frame below the axis of said wheel, a vertically arranged detent having a head cooperating with said wheel, guides for said detent, a spring arranged between a guide and the head of said detent for urging the same toward said wheel, a pivoted lever connected to said detent for moving the same out of engagement with said wheel, and a pluralityof levers connected to said first named lever for actuating the same.

3. 'A convertible chair comprising a chair frame, a back rest pivoted to said frame, a sprocket wheel, a sprocket chain engaging said wheel and fastened at one end to. said back rest, a spring connecting said chain to said frame below the axis of said sprocket to retain said chain always in engagement with said sprocket, a spring pressed detent normally in engagement with said sprocket to prevent rotation thereof, a plurality of connected levers arranged to release said detent to allow movement of said back rest, a lever pivoted at one end near said sprocket and connected to said detent and to one of the levers of said plurality of connected levers, and means operably connected with one of said connected levers for actuating said connected levers to control said detent.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

JOHN K. PRASSAS.

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