Title of Invention: ARTICULATING CHAIR
Abstract: 
An articulating massaging chair is provided that includes: a support frame; a seat pivotally connected to the support frame by a seat pivot; and a backrest pivotally connected to the support frame by a backrest pivot. Also provided is an articulating chair that includes: a support frame; a seat connected to and rotatable relative to the support frame; a backrest connected to and rotatable relative to the support frame; and a linking arm having a first end connected to the backrest and a second end connected to the seat; wherein the backrest and the seat are rotatable relative to the support frame in the same angular direction, and the backrest is rotatable relative to the seat.

Detailed Description: 

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 11/078,574, filed on Mar. 11, 2005, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Pending application Ser. No. 11/078,574 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/553,092, filed Mar. 13, 2004, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated by reference therein.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an articulating chair having a seat and a backrest that are each rotatably mounted to a chair support frame, and specifically to an articulating chair having a seat and a backrest that rotate at different rates of rotation and/or over different angular ranges of rotation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many “reclining” chairs have a seat and a reclining backrest that may be reclined to position a user in a more prone position for increased user comfort. Such reclining is particularly useful when the chair is a massage chair having one or more massaging devices. In such a case, when a user reclines the backrest of the chair, the user's weight distribution against the chair is altered, thus altering the massaging effect that is felt by the user. When so positioned, a larger portion of the user's weight is supported by the backrest and hence a massaging force transferred from a massaging device in the backrest to the user is increased.
However, typically the seat of such reclining chairs is generally horizontally positioned, approximately parallel to a ground surface, and is not angularly movable. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved reclining or articulating chair having a seat and a backrest that are each rotatable for increased user comfort.
In one embodiment according to the present invention, a generally horizontal seat of a chair rotates towards a more inclined position during a rotation of a backrest from a generally vertical position to a more prone position. This motion allows a user's legs to be rotated towards the backrest of the chair, causing the user's back to be less stretched out when the backrest is rotated to a more prone position, thus increasing user comfort. In addition, when such a chair is a massage chair the rotation of both the seat and the backrest allows for an altering of the weight distribution of the user against the chair and hence an altering of the massaging force transferred from the chair to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention is an articulating massaging chair that includes a support frame; a seat pivotally connected to the support frame by a seat pivot; and a backrest pivotally connected to the support frame by a backrest pivot.
In another embodiment, the present invention is an articulating massaging chair that is movable between an upright position and a reclined position and includes a support frame; a seat pivotally connected to the support frame by a seat pivot; and a backrest pivotally connected to the support frame by a backrest pivot. The articulating massaging chair also includes a mounting bracket connecting to the backrest and having a slot that receives a pin, wherein the pin pivotally connects the seat to the backrest. The articulating massaging chair also includes at least one massaging device connected to at least one of the seat and the backrest.
In yet another embodiment, an articulating chair includes a support frame; a seat connected to and rotatable relative to the support frame; a backrest connected to and rotatable relative to the support frame; and a linking arm having a first end connected to the backrest and a second end connected to the seat; wherein the backrest and the seat are rotatable relative to the support frame in the same angular direction, and the backrest is rotatable relative to the seat.
In still another embodiment, an articulating chair includes a support frame; a seat pivotally connected to the support frame by a seat pivot; a backrest pivotally connected to the support frame by a backrest pivot; a linking arm having a first end connected to the backrest and a second end connected to the seat; and at least one massaging device connected to at least one of the seat and the backrest; wherein the backrest and the seat are rotatable relative to the support frame in the same angular direction, and the backrest is rotatable relative to the seat.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Novel features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an articulating chair according to the present invention in an upright position, showing a seat in a generally horizontal position and a backrest in a generally vertical position;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the articulating chair of FIG. 1 in an intermediate position, showing the seat rotated upwards from the generally horizontal position and the backrest rotated backwards from the generally vertical position;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the articulating chair of FIG. 1 in a reclined position, showing the seat rotated further upwards from the generally horizontal position to an inclined position and the backrest rotated further backwards from the generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the articulating chair of FIG. 1, showing a bracket attached to the seat and the backrest that allows for a simultaneous rotation of the seat and the backrest;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 4, showing the articulating chair in the upright position of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 4, showing the articulating chair in the intermediate position of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 4, showing the articulating chair in the reclined position of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a side view of the articulating chair of FIG. 1 in the upright position, showing a biasing member in an extended position;
FIG. 9 is a side view of the articulating chair of FIG. 1 in the intermediate position, showing the biasing member in a retracted position;
FIG. 10 is a side view of the articulating chair of FIG. 1 in the reclined position, showing the biasing member in a fully retracted position;
FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of the articulating chair of FIG. 1 used as a framework for a massaging chair;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a bracket and a linking arm of an articulating chair according to an embodiment of the present invention, the articulating chair in an upright position;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bracket and the linking arm of FIG. 12, the articulating chair in an intermediate position; and
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the bracket and the linking arm of FIG. 12, the articulating chair in a reclined position.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in FIGS. 1-14, the present invention is directed to an articulating chair having a seat and a backrest that are each rotatably mounted to a chair support frame. In one embodiment, the seat and backrest of the articulating chair rotate at different rates of rotation and over different angular ranges of rotation at a predetermined angle ratio.
FIGS. 1-3 show an exemplary embodiment of an articulating chair 10 according to the present invention. As shown, the articulating chair 10 includes a seat 12 and a backrest 14, which are each supported by a support frame 16.
In FIG. 1, the articulating chair 10 is in an upright position. In the upright position, the seat 12 is in a generally horizontal position and the backrest 14 is in a generally vertical position.
In FIG. 2, the articulating chair 10 is in an intermediate position. In the intermediate position, the seat 12 is rotated upwards from the generally horizontal position of FIG. 1 to a more inclined position, and the backrest 14 is rotated backwards from the generally vertical position of FIG. 1 to a more reclined position.
In FIG. 3, the articulating chair 10 is in a reclined position. In the reclined position, the seat 12 is rotated further upwards from the inclined position of FIG. 2 to a fully inclined position and the backrest 14 is rotated further backwards from the reclined position of FIG. 2 to a generally horizontal position.
Viewing FIGS. 1 and 4 together, the backrest 14 includes mounting brackets 18 for connection to the support frame 16. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the backrest 14 includes a rectangularly shaped support structure 19 that defines an outer periphery of the backrest 14. The support structure 19 includes a U-shaped bar 20 connected to a connecting bar 22, such as by a weld, to form the rectangular outer shape of the support structure 19. The mounting brackets 18 extend from a lower portion of the support structure 19 adjacent to the connection of the U-shaped bar 20 to the connecting bar 22. The mounting brackets 18 are mounted to the support structure 19 by a mechanical fastener, such as a weld. Mounted to the U-shaped bar 20 are a plurality of springs 21 for user comfort.
The seat 12 includes side arms 15 and a connecting bar 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 4 for clarity.) Similar to the backrest 14, a plurality of springs 23 are mounted between the side arms 15 of the seat 12 for user comfort. The support frame 16 includes an upper support 24, a lower support 26 and a base 28. The upper support 24 and the lower support 26 are each U-shaped, with the closed ends of each U-shape being mechanically fastened together, such as by nut and bolt connections, such that the open ends of each U-shape are oppositely directed, together forming a truss-like structure, or an X-shape. The lower support 26 is connected to a rectangularly shaped support frame base 28, which supports the weight of the articulating chair 10.
The mounting brackets 18 of the backrest 14 are pivotally connected to the upper support 24 by the pivots 30, such as nut and bolt connections, allowing the backrest 14 to rotate relative to the support frame 16. The seat 12 is similarly pivotally connected to the upper support 24 by the pivots 32, which may also be nut and bolt connections, allowing the seat 12 to rotate relative to the support frame 16.
The seat 12 is also pivotally connected to the mounting brackets 18 by pins 34, such as nut and bolt connections. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, each pin 34 rides within a slot 36 of a corresponding one of the mounting brackets 18. The slots 36 define the angular rotation of the seat 12 and the backrest 14 relative to the support frame 16.
FIG. 5 shows the articulating chair 10 in the upright position. In the upright position, the pins 34 are disposed at a first end 38 of the slots 36. As the articulating chair 10 rotates backwards from the upright position of FIG. 5 to the intermediate position of FIG. 6, the seat 12 rotates relative to the support frame 16 about the pivots 32, while the backrest 14 rotates relative to the support frame 16 about the pivots 30. At the intermediate position, the pins 34 start to slide from the first end 38 of the slots 36 towards a second end 40 of the slots 36.
As the articulating chair 10 rotates backwards from the intermediate position of FIG. 6 to the reclined position of FIG. 7, the seat 12 rotates relative to the support frame 16 about the pivots 32 and the backrest 14 rotates relative to the support frame 16 about the pivots 30, while the pins 34 slide along slots 36 from the first end 38 of the slots 36 to the second end 40 of the slots 36. As the pins 34 slide along slots 36, the backrest 14 pivots relative to the seat 12, causing the backrest 14 to rotate at a faster rate of rotation than the seat 12. This movement of the pins 34 also allows the backrest 14 to rotate over a larger angular range of rotation than that of the seat 12.
For example, in the depicted embodiment, when the articulating chair 10 is in the upright position, the seat 12 forms an angle α with a ground surface of approximately 15°, and the backrest 14 forms an angle β with the ground surface of approximately 105° (see FIG. 1), while in the reclined position, the seat 12 forms an angle α′ with the ground surface of approximately 40°, and the backrest 14 forms an angle β′ with the ground surface of approximately 155° (see FIG. 3.) As such, in this embodiment, the seat 12 has an angular range of approximately 15° to approximately 40° and the backrest 14 has an angular range of approximately 105° to approximately 155°.
However, it is important to note that angles described above can be modified to meet any desired angular range for the seat 12 and any desired angular range for the backrest 14. These angular ranges can be modified for user comfort to meet desired positionings of the user's hip and back when the articulating chair 10 is in use.
For example, in alternative embodiments, when the articulating chair 10 is moved between the upright position and the reclined position, the seat 12 begins and ends anywhere in the angular range of approximately 0° to approximately 45°, and the backrest 14 begins and ends anywhere in the angular range of approximately 90° to approximately 180°. However, it is to be understood that these ranges are merely exemplary and can be modified as desired. For example, the angular range of rotation of the seat 12, the rate of rotation of the seat 12, the angular rotation of the backrest 14, the rate of rotation of the backrest 14, and/or the ratio of the angular range of rotation of the backrest 14 compared to the angular range of rotation of the seat 12, can be modified by changing the position of the pivots 30, the position of the pivots 32, the geometry of the mounting bracket slots 36, and/or the length of the mounting bracket slots 36.
In one embodiment, the articulating chair 10 includes a biasing member 42 (see FIGS. 8-10) for biasing the articulating chair 10 towards the upright position. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the biasing member 42 is a gas spring. The gas spring includes a piston 45 and a gas cylinder 48. The piston 45 is moveable within the gas cylinder 48 between an extended position (FIG. 8) and a retracted position (FIG. 10.) The gas cylinder 48 contains a gas (not shown). When the piston 45 is moved from the expanded position towards the retracted position, the gas in the gas cylinder 48 is compressed and consequently applies a force against the piston 45 resisting the compression. As such, the piston 45 of the gas spring is continually biased toward the expanded position.
For clarity, the gas spring has been omitted from FIG. 4 to more clearly show the mounting flanges used to mount the gas spring to the articulating chair 10. As shown, a first mounting flange 44 is mounted to the connecting bar 22 of the support structure 19 of the backrest 14, and a second mounting flange 46 is mounted to the upper support 24 of the support frame 16. The piston 45 is mounted to the first mounting flange 44 of the backrest 14, and the gas cylinder 48 is mounted to the second mounting flange 46 of the support frame 16. Since the piston 45 is mounted to the backrest 14 and the piston 45 is biased towards the expanded position, the backrest 14 is biased toward the upright position. Since the seat is connected to the backrest 14, the seat 12 is also biased toward the upright position.
In one embodiment, the gas spring applies a constant force that provides little resistance to an average person who leans against the backrest 14 when moving the articulating chair 10 from the upright position to the reclined position, but provides a sufficient force to automatically return the articulating chair 10 to the upright position when the user's weight is removed from the backrest 14. As such, the force required from the gas spring is dependent on the weight of the chair and the force required to move the articulating chair 10, when unoccupied, from the reclined position to the upright position.
Although the gas spring has been described as being connected between the support frame 16 and the backrest 14, in an alternative embodiment, the gas spring may be connected between the support frame 16 and the seat 12. In addition, although the biasing member 42 has been described as a gas spring, the biasing member 42 may be any suitable biasing member, such as a gas damper, a linear actuator, a power drive, a motor drive, or an electric screw drive, among other appropriate biasing members.
In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the articulating chair 10 provides the framework for a massaging chair 50. The massaging chair 50 includes a cover 52 and padded sections 54 and 56 over the seat 12 and backrest 14 for user comfort. The massaging chair 50 also includes one or more massage devices 58 in the area of the backrest 14 and one or more massage devices 58 in the area of the seat 12. The massage devices 58 may be any one of a variety of massage devices known in the art.
Another embodiment of an articulating chair according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 12-14. The articulating chair is shown in FIG. 12 in an upright position, in an intermediate position in FIG. 13, and in a reclined position in FIG. 14. In this embodiment, an articulating chair 11 includes many of the same components and features described above with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11. Like reference numbers will be used to identify like parts. The articulating chair 11 of FIGS. 12-14 includes a seat 12 and a backrest 14, which are each supported by a support frame 16. As in the previously described embodiments, the backrest 14 of the articulating chair 11 includes a support structure 19 and mounting brackets 18 connected to the support structure 19. The articulating chair 11, according to the present embodiment, has two mounting brackets 18, one on each side of the backrest 14. The backrest 14 pivots with respect to the support frame 16 about a pivot 30, and the seat 12 pivots with respect to the support frame 16 about a pivot 32. The articulating chair 11 may also include other components described above with respect to the articulating chair 10, such as the biasing member 42 and one or more massage devices 58.
The articulating chair 11 also includes a linking arm 60 which connects the seat 12 to the backrest 14. The articulating chair 11, according to the present embodiment, has two linking arms 60, one on each side of the articulating chair 11. Each of the linking arms 60 is connected at a first end 62 to one of the mounting brackets 18 of the backrest 14 by a fastener 66, such as a bolt and nut, or any other suitable fastener. Also, each of the linking arms 60 is connected at a second end 64 to a rearward end 15a of a side arm 15 of the seat 12 by a fastener 68, such as a bolt and nut, or any other suitable fastener. The linking arms 60 may be formed of a material having high strength and rigidity, such as steel. Alternatively, the linking arms 60 may be formed of any other suitable material. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 12-14, the linking arms 60, according to the present embodiment, have a curved or “C” shape to prevent interference with the pivots 30. Alternatively, the linking arms 60 may have any other suitable shape for connecting the backrest 14 to the seat 12 to apply a moment to the seat 12, as described below.
The articulating chair 11, shown in FIGS. 12-14, does not include the pins 34 and the slots 36 of the articulating chair 10 of FIGS. 1-11. Instead, the linking arms 60 of the articulating chair 11 provide the connection between the backrest 14 and the seat 12. As a user pushes back on the backrest 14 to recline the articulating chair 11, the user pushes back and down on the brackets 18 to rotate the backrest 14 about the pivots 30. As the brackets 18 move down, the linking arms 60 pull down on the side arms 15 of the seat 12 at the fasteners 68. The seat 12 then pivots about the pivots 32. As the rearward ends 15a of the side arms 15 are pulled down by the linking arms 60, a front edge of the seat 12 rotates up. Thus, the linking arms 60 transfer a rotation force from the backrest 14 to the seat 12 as the backrest 14 is reclined. As a result, a front edge of the seat 12 rotates up as the backrest 14 is reclined.
Moreover, by adjusting the geometry of the linking arms 60, the position of the pivots 30 relative to the fasteners 66, and/or the position of the pivots 32 relative to the fasteners 68, an angular range and/or rate of rotation of the backrest 14 relative to the support frame 16 may be greater than an angular range and/or rate of rotation of the seat 12 relative to the support frame 16. For example, the backrest 14 can be made to rotate through a greater angular range than the seat 12 by adjusting a distance d1 between the fastener 66 and the pivot 30 and a distance d2 between the fastener 68 and the pivot 32, the distances d1 and d2 shown in FIG. 12. If the user reclines the articulating chair 11 by rotating the backrest 14 and the bracket 18 about the pivot 30, the first end 62 of the linking arm 60 will move down a distance H1 according to the distance d1. Because the first end 62 of the linking arm 60 is rigidly connected to the second end 64 of the linking arm 60, the second end 64 will also move down a corresponding distance H2. The difference between the distances H1 and H2 will depend on the geometry of the linking arm 60 and locations of the fasteners 66, 68. When the second end 64 of the linking arm 60 pulls the rearward end 15a of the side arms 15 of the seat 12 down by the distance H2, the front edge of the seat 12 will rotate up about the pivot 32 according to the distance d2.
The angles of rotation of the backrest 14 and the seat 12 can be controlled, for example, by adjusting the distances d1 and d2 and the geometry of the linking arm 60. In some embodiments, the distance d1 is not equal to the distance d2. For example, if the distance d1 is relatively small, then the movement of the fastener 66 through the distance H1 when the user reclines the backrest 14 will cause a relatively large angular rotation of the backrest 14 about the pivot 30. The first end 62 of the linking arm 60 will pull down on the second end 64 of the linking arm 60, causing the fastener 68 to move through the distance H2. If the distance d2 is relatively large, then the movement of the fastener 68 and the rearward end 15a of the side arm 15 of the seat 12 through the distance H2 will cause only a small angular rotation of the seat 12 about pivot 32. Thus, the angular rotations of the backrest 14 and the seat 12 can be controlled by adjusting the geometries between the fasteners 66, 68 and the pivots 30, 32.
The backward rotation of the articulating chair 11 is shown sequentially in FIGS. 12-14. FIG. 12 shows the articulating chair 11 in an upright position. In the upright position, the fasteners 66 are below the pivots 30. Also, the fasteners 68 are below the pivots 32. As the articulating chair 11 rotates backward from the upright position of FIG. 12 to the intermediate position of FIG. 13, the seat 12 rotates relative to the support frame 16 about the pivots 32, while the backrest 14 rotates relative to the support frame 16 about the pivots 30. In the intermediate position, the fasteners 66 are farther below the pivots 30 than they were in the upright position, as the fasteners 66 move through the distance H1. Also, the linking arms 60 pull the rearward ends 15a of the arms 15 of the seat 12 down such that the fasteners 68 are moved farther below the pivots 32, as the fasteners 68 move through the distance H2.
As the articulating chair 11 rotates further backward from the intermediate position of FIG. 13 to the reclined position of FIG. 14, the seat 12 rotates relative to the support frame 16 about the pivots 32, and the backrest 14 rotates relative to the support frame 16 about the pivots 30. In the reclined position of FIG. 14, the fasteners 68 have moved farther below the pivots 32, and the fasteners 66 have moved farther below the pivots 30. As described above, the geometry of the linking arms 60 and the positions of the fasteners 66 and 68 relative to the pivots 30 and 32, respectively, define the ratio of the angular range and rate of rotation of the backrest 14 to those of the seat 12.
Notably, by transferring the rotation force via the linking arms 60 of the articulating chair 11, rather than via pins and slots (such as the pins 34 and the slots 36 of the articulating chair 10), the side arms 15 of the seat 12 may be shorter in length. The shorter side arms 15 of the articulating chair 11 allow the side arms 15 and the mounting brackets 18 to be in substantially the same plane without interfering with each other while the articulating chair 11 reclines, providing improved accessibility to the fasteners 66, 68 and the pivots 30, 32.
The preceding description has been presented with references to presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, spirit, and scope of this invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be read as pertaining only to the precise structures described and shown in the accompanying drawings.



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