Control for adjustable backrest of a seat or lounge, and seat or lounge incorporating it

A control and an article of furniture which incorporates the control. The article of furniture is such as a chair or lounge and includes a pivoted backrest that can be raised to a plurality of selectable angles, retained at a selected angle, and released to allow the backrest to be raised further and thereafter lowered, all without requiring the user to manipulate anything except the backrest itself, and without requiring struts to support the backrest.

A chair or chaise lounge often has a backrest which can be laid flat or raised to some selectable angle. Such furniture is well-known and often is employed outdoors such as adjacent to a swimming pool. This furniture is generally lightweight and preferably is stackable for storage.

Adjustment of the backrest frequently employs ratchet-like structures into which struts from the backrest fit. Generally they are spring or weight loaded so as to assure engagement. Release of the engagement may be relatively easy when raising the backrest, but require the user to push or otherwise manipulate the strut or even a lock, in order to lower the backrest for storage or for readjustment. This requires the occupant to change his or her location to do it, and risks putting the hands in a pinch. For leisure use, especially in elegant places, it required movement or manipulation which preferably would be unnecessary.

It is an object of this invention to provide a backrest control that enables the user to raise the backrest, even while seated on the furniture, to a desired angle by moving the backrest upwardly. Reverse movement at this time will be prevented by the control, which has numerous points of engagement to provide for various angles of the backrest.

After the backrest has passed its uppermost selectable position, the control importantly enables the backrest to be fully lowered to its flat position without restraint on the way down or manipulation of anything except the backrest itself. Thereafter the backrest may again be raised to any selectable position. The only action required by the user was to fully raise the backrest and then lower it to its flat position, after which the backrest can again be raised to a desired angle, or left flat for storage. It is quick and easy.

An article of furniture such as a chair or lounge includes a base for a seat or lounge and a backrest pivotally mounted to the base at each side. The backrest may be lowered flat to extend the lounge for its full length as a couch, and raised to a number of selectable angles for the occupant to lean against as a chair or demi-lounge. The base is preferably configured for stacking while the backrest is fully lowered.

A control is provided to enable the backrest to be retained in a selected upper position, and readily to be lowered to its flat position. The control is engaged by a linkage that is drivingly rotatably connected to the backrest. This linkage includes a drive arm drivingly connected to the backrest and a latch arm hingedly mounted to the drive arm. The backrest and the drive arm act in the manner of a bellcrank as will be discussed below. The latch arm includes a follower at its end removed from the hinge pivot.

The control includes a loop-shaped track having an adjustment segment, a return segment, and a first and second transition segment. The transition segments connect adjacent ends of the adjustment and return segments to complete the loop.

The adjustment segment includes a progression of stops unidirectionally engageable with the follower. The return segment enables the free movement of the backrest in both directions so the backrest can return to its flat orientation.

A biased selector in the transition segment at the backrest-raised setting enables the movement of the follower from the adjustment segment to the return segment, but prevents the reverse.

Accordingly the backrest can be lowered by first raising it fully, and then lowering it. Reverse movement is prevented while the latch arm is in the adjustment segment, and the user will reliably be supported.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an off-axis view of the presently-preferred embodiment of the invention with the backrest in its lowered position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the backrest in an intermediate raised position, restrained against backward movement;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the backrest moved beyond its uppermost position prior to being lowered;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base;

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