US3475051A - Recliner-rocker chair with a handle operated footrest - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1969 H. CRAWFORD RECLINER-ROGKER CHAIR WITH A HANDLE OPERATED FOOTREST Filed Dec. 11, 1967 9 A. WFORD 3,475,051

RECLINER-ROCKER CHAIR WITH A HANDLE OPERATED FOOTREST Filed D86. 11, 1967 I 4 shets-sheet 2 70c b INVENTOR ALLAN H. CRAWFORD v Oct. 28, 1969 A. H. CRAWFORD RECLINER-ROCKER CHAIR WITH A HANDLE OPERATED FOOTREST Filed Dec. 11, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 RR m Mo N 5% H NW A L L Y B N Om RECLlNER-ROCKER CHAIR WITH A HANDLE OPERATED FOOTREST Filed Dec. 11, 1967 Oc 2 1969 A. H, CRAWFORD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ALLA N H. CRAWFORD United States Patent 3,475,051 RECLINER-ROCKER CHAIR WITH A HANDLE OPERATED FOOTREST Allan H. Crawford, Amsterdam, N.Y., assignor to M0- hasco Industries, Inc., Amsterdam, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 689,427 Int. Cl. A47c 1/022, 3/02 US. Cl. 297-69 25 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A recliner-rocker having a handle operated actuating footrest having two-way detent means thereon to allow positive positioning of the footrest in a plurality of positions, and which allows the footrest to be moved from its collapsed position to any of the plurality of positions and directly collapsed from any such position without the necessity of requiring that the footrest be extended to its fully extended position before being collapsed.

The present invention relates to chairs and more particularly to a footrest actuating means for use on chairs having a footrest which is movable from a collapsed position to a plurality of extended positions where the footrest will support the legs of an occupant sitting in the chair. The invention is capable of being used on chairs of the reclining and non-reclining type and in one embodiment finds particularly advantageous use on chairs of the platform rocker type. In the embodiment described herein, the invention is shown in a chair of the latter type.

Platform rocking chairs are well known in the art. Such chairs comprise essentially a chair frame mounted on a platform which chair is rockable to and fro thereon. These chairs carry an extended footrest which may be moved from an at home position, wherein the footrest lies closely adjacent to the front of the chair, to an extended position where it serves as a footrest to support the legs of a person sitting in such chair. The footrest of such chairs has traditionally been capable of achieving two fixed positions, that is, the normal at home position, and a fully extended position. At least one chair has been developed wherein the footrest may be moved to a position or positions intermediate the at home position, that is, the footrest may be moved from its at home position to its fully extended position and, additionally, it may be moved to intermediate positions. The latter chair is equipped with a one-way detent means to lock the footrest in extended positions. r

In chairs of the platform rocker type, the chair should be extremely simple in operation and constructed in such manner that there is a minimum of interference with the movable structure thereof. In this connection, I have found shortcomings in the chairs of the prior art, namely,

when the handle is actuated to move thefootrest to an extended position, it frequently happens that the chair will tend to rock forward while the footrest is being moved away from its retracted position. In such an event the footrest will tend to rub the floor and its extending movement will be interferred with. Additionally, in the case of a chair equipped with a one-way detent means for locking the footrest in intermediate positions, it has been observed that if the chair is in any one of its intermediate positions, and it is desired to return the footrest home from such intermediate position, the footrest must first move to its fully extended position in order to release the detent means to permit homeward movement of the footrest.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus which overcomes the difficulties above mentioned, that is, a simple and efiicient apparatus which, in the case of a platform rocker, serves to block forward rocking movement of the chair during movement of the footrest and, additionally, in rockers or non-rockers, provides for the movement of the footrest from its at home position to a plurality of well defined extended positions, and which is further operable to allow the footrest to be returned to its home position directly from any one of its extended positions.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment, demonstrating features of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a portion of the structure of the instant invention and taken along the line 11 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of the footrest actuating means taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the apparatus of FIG. 3 in one of its actuated positions.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the apparatus of FIG. 3 in another of its actuated positions.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the structure utilized to block the chair from rocking forward upon initial movement of the footrest actuating handle, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the footrest actuating and rocker blocking structure in one of its actuated positions.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the footrest actuating and rocker blocking structure in another of its actuated positions.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a portion of the footrest actuating means taken along the line 99 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a base comprising side members 20 joined by transverse frame members 21 supports, for rocking movement thereon, a chair 22. The chair has side frame members 24, 24a joined together by a plurality of transversely extending frame members 25. Secured to each of the side frame members 24, 24a is a rocker member 26 which rocker members rest atop the base frame members 20 and are suitably rockably connected thereto to allow the chair 22 to rock on such base members 20. The side frame members 24, 24a support a back assembly 28, a seat assembly 30, and a footrest assembly 32, all as more particularly described below. Mounted on the side frame member 24 is a main frame member 26 which may be secured to the side frame member by a plurality of fasteners 38.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a main frame member similar to the member 36 is carried by the side frame member 24a, and the structure of FIG. 1 shown mounted on the member 36 is duplicated on such second frame member except as hereinafter described.

A forward carrier link 40 and a rear carrier link 42 are carried by the main frame member 36 on pivots 44 and 46. Each of these carrier links 40 and 42 is pivotably connected at its end remote from its main frame connection to a seat frame supporting link 48, and, carried by the pair of seat frame supporting links 48 is a seat frame 50 which may carry a suitably cushioned and up holstered cushion, not shown.

The footrest assembly 32 is movably supported on the main frame member 36 by an extensible linkage carried on a pair of pivots 52 and 54. The footrest link 56 carried on the pivot 54 is connected to a footrest actuating link 58 by means of a pivot 60. The footrest actuating link 58 is, in turn, connected at its end remote from the pivotable connection 60 to a detent plate member 62 loosely carried on a bushing 64, FIG. 9, which bushing has a square aperture formed therein and is fitted to a square offset shaft 66. An over center spring is suitably connected between the footrest link 56 and the main frame member 36 to bias the footrest in its various positions and aid in the elevation of such footrest after the spring travels over center of the pivot 54. A further description of the footrest actuating means is given below, but suifice it to say for the present that, when the footrest actuating link 58 is moved rearwardly, that is, to the right in FIG. 1, the footrest supporting link 56 is rotated in a clockwise direction, FIG. 1, to extend the footrest linkage and move the footrest 33 forwardly and upwardly.

The aforementioned square shaft 66 extends transversely of the chair and is journaled in bushings 68 freely to tatable in openings formed in the frame members 36. One end of the shaft 66 extends through an opening in the righthand side frame member 24 and has fastened to it a handle 69 which handle is utilized to rotate the shaft 66, as hereinafter described, to extend the footrest. A shield member 70 having a square aperture formed therein is fitted to the shaft 66 alongside the aforementioned plate member 62. A pair of rivets 71, 72 pass through the bushings 64 and 68 and the shield member 70. Thus, whenever the handle 69 is rotated, the shaft 66, the shield member 70, and both bushings 64 and 68 will always rotate in unison about the axis of the shaft 66, The notches on the shield member 70 are each defined by two gradually sloping edges, while the notches on the plate 62 are each defined by one abrupt edge, and one gradually sloping edge such as the edges 104a, 105a, 106a of the notches 104, 105, and 106, respectively.

A pin 72 is secured to the detent plate 62. This pin 72 extends through a slot 74 formed in the shield member 70. A crank member 82 carrying a detent pin 83 is rotatably mounted on a stud 84 carried by the main frame member 36, which crank member is spring biased in a clockwise direction, FIG. 1, by a spring 86 secured between said crank and a pin 87 carried by the frame member 36. Spring biased movement of the crank 82 is limited by a stop pin 88 fixed to the frame member 36.

An upstanding notched member 90, FIGS. 2 and 6, is secured to the forward transverse frame member 21. R- tatably carried by a pin 92 carried by a bracket 94 fixed to the transverse frame member 25a is a pawl member 940 carrying a pin 94b, which pawl is spring biased by a spring 95 in a clockwise direction, FIG. 6, towards cooperating relationship with the ratchet 90. Attached to the distal end of the pawl 94a, by a bracket 97, is a chain 98, which chain is connected at its other end to a bracket 101 secured to the aforementioned shaft 66,

The footrest actuating mechanism is shown in its normal position in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the handle 69 is actuated to extend the footrest, the shaft 66 is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 7 and counterclockwise in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

When it is desired to extend the footrest 33 from its normal position of FIG. 1, the handle 69 rotates, as above mentioned, clockwise in FIG. 1. Such action causes the shaft 66, FIGS. 1 and 6, to move in a similar direction which immediately releases, for spring actuated clockwise movement, the pawl 94, FIG. 6, and allows the pawl 94a to engage the ratchet 90. Such action blocks the rocker from thereafter rocking forward and thereby minimizes the possibility that the footrest, as it swings outwardly, will touch the floor. Should it be desired to prevent the pawl 94 from engaging the ratchet 90 until the footrest has been slightly extended, the length of the chain 98 may be shortened. This would tend to prevent blocking engagement of the ratchet and pawl in the event the handle was rotated inadvertently during, say, rocking movement of the chair, with no intention of extending the footrest, I have found such mode of operation to be desirable as well as that previously described. Continued movement of the handle in the clockwise direction of FIG. 1 causes the shaft 66 to rotate further counterclockwise in FIG. 3. Such continued movement, keeping in mind that the shield 70 is secured to the shaft 66, causes the shield 70 to eventually engage the pin 72 against the rightmost end of the slot 74. When the pin 72 is engaged by the rightmost end of the slot 74, the notches in both the shield 70 and the plate 62 are aligned, and continued movement of the shaft 66 in counterclockwise direction, FIG. 3, will cause the shield 70 and plate 62 to move in unison with their slots aligned. When the detent plate 62 moves, it pulls the link 58 rearwardly to move the footrest towards its extended position. As the shield 70 and plate 62 move counterclockwise, FIG. 3, the detent pin 83 follows their contour and, whenever a pair of aligned notches present themselves to the pin 83, such pin will, due to the action of the spring 86, engage in such notches to lock the plate 62 and footrest 24 in its corresponding extended position, that is, when the pin 83 is in the notch 104, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the footrest will be locked in its first extended position; when the pin 83 is in the notch 105, the footrest will be locked in a second extended position; and when the pin 83 is in the notch 106, FIGS. 5 and 8, the footrest will be locked in its fully extended position. In this position, extending movement of the footrest may be limited by abutment of the lower edge 58a of the actuating link 58 with the edge 70d of the shield member 72, FIG. 5, or any other suitable stop means, for example a pin suitably positioned on the frame member 36.

When it is desired to return the footrest to its normal, at home, position of FIG. 1, the handle 69 is merely rotated in a direction the opposite of that necessary to extend the footrest, and this is regardless of whether the position from which it is desired to return the footrest is the aforementioned first, second, or third extended position, corresponding to the engagement of the pin 83 with the slots 104, 105, 106, respectively. For example, if the footrest is in its first extended position and the pin 83 is in the slot 104, rotating the handle counterclockwise, FIG. 7, will cause the shaft 60 to rotate clockwise, FIG. 4. The shield 70, because of its being fixed to the shaft 66, will immediately move clockwise, FIG. 4, and cam the pin 83 out of the slot 104. At this point, the positions of the members 70 and 62, relative to each other, will be as shown in FIG. 3, i.e., the leftmost end of the slot 74 will now engage the pin 72, and continued movement of the handle 69, shaft 66, and shield 70 will cause the plate 62 to move in unison therewith to move the footrest actuating link 58 forward, and thereby bring the footrest home until such movement is halted by engagement of the plate 62 with a stop pin 74 fixed to the main frame member 36.

If, for example, the pin were engaged in the slot 106, as shown in FIG. 5, and the sequence just described were followed, the detent pin 83 would similarly be cammed out of the slot 106 by the leading inclined edge 70a of the shield 70 and, thereafter, be prevented from entering either of the slots or 104 inasmuch as, as these slots passed the area where the pin 83 would be in a position to enter them, the surfaces 70b and 70c, respectively, would block the pin from entering such slot.

During final homeward movement of the shaft 66, the pawl 94a is disengaged from the ratchet 90, in a movement the reverse of the engaging movement above described.

- Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A chair comprising, a frame having seat and back portions, an extendible footrest carried by said frame, said footrest being actuable from a first collapsed position where it is positioned closely adjacent said frame to a plurality of extended positions, means actuable to actuate said footrest in a first direction to move it from said collapsed position to each of said plurality of extended positions, lock said footrest against collapsing movement in each of said plurality of said positions, and there after return said footrest in a second direction only from any of said extended positions to said collapsed position, said means for actuating said footrest including first and second actuating plates having a lost motion connection therebetween, a footrest actuating handle, a shaft operable upon movement of said handle, said first actuating plate being fixed to said shaft and said second actuating plate loosely carried on said shaft and pivotally connected to footrest actuating link.

2. A platform rocking chair comprising a base, a chair rockably mounted on said base for rocking movement forwardly and backwardly, said chair comprising a frame, an extendible footrest carried by said frame, said footrest being actuable from a first collapsed position where it is positioned closely adjacent said frame and the surface supporting said base to an extended position, blocking means carried by said base, engaging means carried by said frame, actuating means actuable in a first direction to move said engaging means into engagement with said blocking means to block forward rocking movement of said chair, said actuating means thereafter actuable to move said footrest to its extended position, said means for actuating said footrest including first and second actuating plates having a lost motion connection therebetween, a footrest actuating handle, a shaft operable upon movement of said handle, said first actuating plate being fixed to said shaft and said second actuating plate loosely carried on said shaft and pivotally connected to a footrest actuating link.

3. A platform rocking chair comprising a base, a chair rockably mounted on said base for rocking movement forwardly and backwardly, said chair comprising a frame, an extendible footrest carried by said frame, said footrest being actuable from a first collapsed position where it is positioned closely adjacent said frame and the surface supporting said base to an extended position, blocking means carried by said base, engaging means carried by said frame, actuating means actuable in a first direction to move said engaging means into engagement with said blocking means to block forward rocking movement of said chair, said actuating means thereafter actuable to move said footrest to its extended position, lock said footrest in said extended position, and thereafter return said footrest in a second direction only from said extended position to said collapsed position, said means for actuating said footrest including first and second actuating plates having a lost motion connection therebetween, a footrest actuating handle, a shaft operable upon movement of said handle, said first actuating plate being fixed to said shaft and said second actuating plate loosely carried on said shaft and pivotally connected to a footrest actuating link.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein, each of said plates has a plurality of notches formed therein.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said first direction, notched portions of each of said plates are in alignment.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said second direction the notches on each of said plates are disaligned.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means for locking said footrest includes a detent pin carried by said frame and engageable with the notches of said second actuating plate.

8. The invention of claim 2 wherein, each of said plates has a plurality of notches formed therein.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said first direction, notched portions of each of said plates are in alignment.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said second direction the notches on each of said plates are disaligned.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein, said means for locking said footrest includes a detent pin carried by said frame and engageable with the notches of said second actuating plate.

12. The invention of claim 3 wherein, each of said plates has a plurality of notches formed therein.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said first direction notched portions of each of said plates are in alignment.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said second direction the notches on each of said plates are disaligned.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein, said means for locking said footrest includes a detent pin carried by said frame and engageable with the notches of said second actuating plate.

16. A platform rocking chair comprising a base, a chair rockably mounted on said base for rocking movement forwardly and backwardly, said chair comprising a frame, an extendible footrest carried by said frame, said footrest being actuable from a first collapsed position where it is positioned closely adjacent said frame and the surface supporting said base to an extended position, blocking means carried by said base, engaging means carried by said frame, actuating means actuable in a first direction to move said footrest from its collapsed position and thereafter move said engaging means into engagement with said blocking means to block forward rocking movement of said chair, said actuating means thereafter actuable to move said footrest to its extended position, said means for actuating said footrest including first and second actuating plates having a lost motion connection therebetween, a footrest actuating handle, a shaft operable upon movement of said handle, said first actuating plate being fixed to said shaft and said second actuating plate loosely carried on said shaft and pivotally connected to a footrest actuating link.

17. A platform rocking chair comprising a base, a chair rockably mounted on said base for rocking movement forwardly and backwardly, said chair comprising a frame, an extendible footrest carried by said frame, said footrest being actuable from a first collapsed position where it is positioned closely adjacent said frame and the surface supporting said base to an extended position, blocking means carried by said base, engaging means carried by said frame, actuating means actuable in a first direction to move said footrest from its collapsed position and thereafter move said engaging means into engagement with said blocking means to block forward rocking movement of said chair, said actuating means thereafter actuable to move said footrest to its extended position, lock said footrest in said extended position, and thereafter return said footrest in a second direction only from said extended position to said collapsed position, said means for actuating said footrest including first and second actuating plates having a lost motion connection therebetween, a footrest actuating handle, a shaft operable upon movement of said handle, said first actuating plate being fixed to said shaft and said second actuating plate loosely carried on said shaft and pivotally connected to a footrest actuating link.

18. The invention of claim 16 wherein, each of said plates has a plurality of notches formed therein.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said first direction, notched portions of each of said plates are in alignment.

20. The invention of claim 19 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said second direction the notches on each of said plates are disaligned.

21. The invention of claim 20 wherein, said means for locking said footrest includes a detent pin carried by said frame and engageable with the notches of said second actuating plate.

22. The invention of claim 17 wherein, each of said plates has a plurality of notches formed therein.

23. The invention of claim 22 wherein, during movement of said footrest in said first direction, notched portions of each of said plates are in alignment.

7 8 24. The invention of claim 23 wherein, during move- 2,963,077 12/1960 Knabusch et a1 297-265 ment of said footrest in said second direction the notches 3,096,121 7/1963 Knabusch et a1 297-269 on each of said plates are disaligned. 3,138,402 6/ 1964 Heyl et a1. 297-69 25. The invention of claim 24 wherein, said mean 3,237,059 11/1966 Rosmarin 297-69 for locking said footrest includes a detent pin carried by 5 3,325,210 6/1967 Knabusch et 1 297 2 9 said frame and engageable with the notches of said sec- 3,371,958 3/1968 caldemeyer et a1.

0nd actuating plate.

References Cited JAMES T. McCALL, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 U S C1 X R,

2,746,519 5/ 1956 Krikorian 297-269 297-85, 271 2,776,703 1/ 1957 Belisle 297-269

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