阅读说明：本技术 机动化的零重力椅子 (Motorized zero-gravity chair ) 是由 比尔·卡其尔斯基 于 2018-06-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于躺椅的机动化的倾斜机构允许将椅子置于零重力位置。底架包括2个相对于彼此枢转的子框架,以提供简易的倾斜机构。(A motorized tilt mechanism for a recliner allows the chair to be placed in a zero-gravity position. The undercarriage comprises 2 sub-frames pivoted relative to each other to provide a simple tilting mechanism.)

1. A tilting mechanism for a chair, comprising a first sub-frame in contact with the ground and connected to a backrest, a seat and a footrest of the chair, and a second sub-frame in contact with the ground and pivotably connected to the first sub-frame, wherein pivoting of the first and second sub-frames relative to each other enables tilting of the backrest, the seat and the footrest of the chair.

2. The tilt mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first subframe is in contact with the ground via wheels.

3. The tilt mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second subframe is in contact with the ground via wheels.

4. The tilt mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first and second subframes are pivoted relative to each other by a motor that drives a linear actuator connected between the first and second subframes.

5. The tilt mechanism of claim 1, wherein tilting of the back, seat and ottoman of the chair places the chair in a zero-gravity position.

6. The tilt mechanism of claim 1, wherein the chair is an geriatric chair.

7. The tilt mechanism of claim 1, wherein the chair is an obese chair.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to motorized reclining chairs, and in particular to chairs that may be placed in a zero-gravity position.

Background

Motorized reclining chairs are well known, producing tens of thousands of chairs per month. Typically, a chair will have two drive mechanisms, a first for tilting the chair back and a second for extending the footrest. These mechanisms may also interact with the seat bottom to provide a small change in inclination. Such motorized chairs have found wide acceptance in homes around the world and are especially appreciated by the elderly or infirm, especially those suffering from disease. Similar chairs having additional drive mechanisms for independently tilting the backrest relative to the base are also popular for bariatric use.

Zero-gravity chairs that are movable to a cardiac rest position or trendelenberg position where the legs are raised flush with or above the heart are widely used in clinical and even household situations to reduce blood stagnation in the legs and improve or increase blood/fluid circulation. Typically, home versions of such chairs are manually operated, with motorized operation limited to large, expensive and bulky clinical chairs.

It is desirable to incorporate the zero gravity feature into a motorized recliner chair for home use to benefit a large number of elderly, infirm, or obese people. Known examples of such chairs typically tilt the chair relative to a separate chassis, thus causing unnecessary complexity and therefore being expensive and inaccessible to the general public.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a motorised recliner chair having a simple reclining function to alleviate the above problems, or at least to provide the public with a useful alternative.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides a tilting mechanism for a chair comprising a first sub-frame in contact with the ground and connected to the backrest, the seat and the footrest of the chair, and a second sub-frame in contact with the ground and pivotally connected to the first sub-frame, wherein pivoting of the first and second sub-frames relative to each other enables tilting of the backrest, the seat and the footrest of the chair.

Preferably, the first and second subframes are in contact with the ground via wheels.

Preferably, the first and second sub-frames are pivoted relative to each other by a motor driving a linear actuator connected between the first and second sub-frames, and the tilting of the backrest, seat and footrest of the chair places the chair in a zero-gravity position.

The chair may be an old person chair or an obese person chair.

It should be noted that any of the aspects described above may include any feature of any of the other aspects described above, and may suitably include any feature of any of the embodiments described below.

Drawings

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the present invention can be discerned from the following detailed description, which provides sufficient information to one skilled in the art to carry out the present invention. This detailed description should not be construed to limit the scope of the foregoing summary in any way. The detailed description will refer to a number of the figures that follow.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective and side views of a lounge chair incorporating the present invention in an intermediate position.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show perspective and side views of a lounge chair incorporating the present invention in a reclined position.

Fig. 3A and 3B show perspective and side views of the tilt mechanism of the present invention in an intermediate position.

Fig. 4A and 4B show perspective and side views of the tilt mechanism of the present invention in a tilted position.

Drawing part

The figures include the following reference numerals:

10 reclining chair

12 backrest

14 seats

16-foot stool

20 underframe

30 rear subframe

32 rear wheel

40 front subframe

42 front wheel

50 driving mechanism

52 electric motor

54 linear actuator

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or like parts. The dimensions of some of the elements shown in the figures may have been modified and/or exaggerated for clarity or illustrative purposes.

The present invention provides a simple motorized reclining mechanism for a recliner that allows the recliner to be placed in a zero-gravity position. Unlike known mechanisms that pivot the body of the chair relative to the chassis, the present invention provides a chassis that includes 2 sub-frames that pivot relative to each other, thereby providing a simple tilt mechanism for typical geriatric and obese chairs.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective and side views of a lounge chair 10 incorporating the present invention in an intermediate position. Figures 2A and 2B show the same chair incorporating the invention in an inclined position. The chair back 12, seat 14 and footrest 16 are shown in phantom to reveal the internal mechanisms. These drawings are not intended to provide details of the mechanism, but rather to convey how the present invention is incorporated into a typical motorized recliner mechanism as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The prior art portion of the mechanism shown is typically used in geriatric chairs and may have one or two drive motors and associated linkages to achieve the tilt and ottoman extension functions. The present invention is also directed to obese chairs, which typically have additional motors to independently recline the back of the chair. The invention comprises a chassis 20, which chassis 20 comprises a rear sub-frame and a front sub-frame and a drive mechanism for pivoting the sub-frames relative to each other and thus performing a tilting function. Starting from the neutral position in fig. 1A, the footrest 16 is first extended and then the backrest 12, seat 14 and footrest 16 are tilted in unison (in unity) to achieve a zero-gravity position.

In the perspective and side views of fig. 3A and 3B, the mechanism of the present invention is shown in isolation in an intermediate position. The mechanism is a frame 20 comprising a rear subframe 30 pivotally connected to a front subframe 40 and a drive mechanism 50 for pivoting the subframes relative to each other. Various geometries may be used for the frame. Preferably, the sub-frames are simple rectangular pieces made of tubular steel or flat steel, with one sub-frame being narrower than the other so that they can be nested together. In the preferred embodiment, the front sub-frame 40 is narrower than the rear sub-frame 30, and the side rails of the two frames are partially pivotally connected along their side portions. The rear wheels 32 are mounted on the rear sub-frame and the front wheels 42 are mounted on the front sub-frame. In the intermediate position shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the two sub-frames lie in the same plane to provide a horizontal base to which the remaining chair components may be mounted. Most of the chair components, i.e., the backrest, seat and footrest and associated hardware and drive mechanisms, are mounted to the rear sub-frame 30, either directly or indirectly through various brackets, with the seat of the chair substantially parallel to the rear sub-frame, such that when the rear sub-frame rotates relative to the front sub-frame, these chair components move with the rear sub-frame to achieve a reclined position. The arrangement that effectively connects most of the chair components to the rear sub-frame and rotates the front sub-frame is equally applicable to the interior of an older or obese chair.

Fig. 4A and 4B show a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of the mechanism of the present invention in a tilted position. Tilting is achieved by rotating the front subframe 40 and the rear subframe 30 about their mutual pivot points. The power for tilting is provided by a drive mechanism 50 comprising an electric motor 52 and a linear actuator 54. The drive mechanism acts between the cross members of the rear subframe and the cross members of the front subframe, either pulling them together or pushing them apart, to effect rotation of the subframes and thus tilting of the seat. Tilting relies on the sub-frame both contacting the ground and the contact points moving relative to each other as the sub-frame pivots. The wheels 32 and 42 optimally facilitate this movement. The wheels may be conventional wheels, casters or rollers; it is even possible to use the low friction end of the sub-frame instead at either or both ends. Wheels are preferred because they also allow the chair to be easily moved.

The reader will now understand the present invention, which provides a simple mechanism for reclining a chair to achieve a zero-gravity position.

Further advantages and improvements of the invention may well be realized without departing from the scope of the invention. While the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

In the specification and claims, the word "comprise", and derivatives thereof, including "comprises" and "comprising", if any, includes each stated integer but does not preclude the inclusion of one or more other integers.