US20060238013A1

US20060238013A1 - Chair assembly

Info

Publication number: US20060238013A1
Application number: US11/092,250
Authority: US
Inventors: Chuen-Jong Tseng
Original assignee: Taiwan Shin Yeh Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Taiwan Shin Yeh Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-03-29
Filing date: 2005-03-29
Publication date: 2006-10-26

Abstract

A chair assembly includes a chair unit having a seat frame, a seat member attached to the seat frame, and a leg support. The seat frame includes front and rear ends, and left and right first arms extending from the front to rear ends. The leg support includes a leg frame that has left and right second arms which are connected pivotally and respectively to the left and right first arms at the vicinity of the front end of the seat frame, and a leg rest member attached to the leg frame. The leg support is movable between a folded position, in which the leg rest member is superimposed on the seat member, and an unfolded position, in which the leg rest member extends forwardly from the seat member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a chair assembly, more particularly to a chair assembly with a leg support.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional chair, such as a swing chair, includes a seat portion, and a backrest portion extending upwardly from a rear side of the seat portion. However, the length of the seat portion usually supports only the buttocks and the upper leg portions of a user. The lower leg portions of the user are without support, and are hung freely. The conventional chair is not configured to provide support and comfort to the lower leg portions of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a chair assembly that can provide leg support to thereby provide comfort to users and that is easy to use.
According to this invention, a chair assembly comprises a chair unit including a seat frame, a seat member, and a leg support. The seat frame includes front and rear ends, and left and right first arms extending from the front to rear ends. The seat member is attached to the seat frame. The leg support includes a leg frame having left and right second arms which are connected pivotally and respectively to the left and right first arms at the vicinity of the front end, and a leg rest member attached to the leg frame. The leg support is movable between folded and unfolded positions. In the folded position, the leg rest member is superimposed on the seat member. In the unfolded position, the leg rest member extends forwardly from the seat member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a chair assembly according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a leg support in a folded position;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how a leg frame is connected to a seat frame;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top sectional view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the leg support in an unfolded position;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the leg support in an extended position;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with the leg support in the unfolded position; and
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with leg supports of left and right chair units in the unfolded and extended positions, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the preferred embodiment of a chair assembly according to the present invention is shown to comprise a swing support frame 1, a swinging unit 2, and left and right chair units 4.
The swing support frame 1 includes a pair of leg units 11 mounted on the ground, and a top horizontal bar 12 connected between the leg units 11. Each of the leg units 11 is substantially A-shaped. The top horizontal bar 12 has left and right rings 121 sleeved thereon.
The swinging unit 2 is hung on the top horizontal bar 12, and is movable in a front-to-rear direction. The swinging unit 2 includes a pair of left and right hanging frames 21 hung on the top horizontal bar 12, and a rear cross bar 23. Each of the hanging frames 21 includes a front hanging rod 211 and a rear hanging rod 212, both of which are hooked to a corresponding one of the rings 121. The rear cross bar 23 interconnects lower ends of the rear hanging rods 212 of the left and right hanging frames 21.
Each of the left and right chair units 4 is installed on the swinging unit 2, and includes a seat frame 41, a seat member 42, and a leg support 5. The seat frame 41 is connected to the swing unit 2, and includes front and rear ends, left and right first arms 401 extending from the front to rear end of the seat frame 41, a rear link 402 interconnecting rear ends of the first arms 401 and connected to the rear cross bar 23, and a front link 403. The first arms 401 extend upwardly from the front end to the rear end of the seat frame 41, and are connected to the rear link 402 at the vicinity of the rear end of the seat frame 41. Front ends 411 of the first arms 401 are connected to a top surface of the front link 403 so as to be supported by the same.
An intermediate seat member 3 is connected between middle portions of the front link 403 and the rear link 23, and is disposed between the left and right chair units 4. In this embodiment, the intermediate seat member 3 is a small table.
The seat member 42 is attached to the seat frame 41, and has a seat portion 421, and a backrest portion 422 extending upwardly from a rear edge of the seat portion 421 and connected to the rear link 402.
The leg support 5 includes a leg frame 51 that has left and right second arms 501 which are connected pivotally and respectively to the left and right first arms 401 at the vicinity of the front end of the seat frame 41, and a leg rest member 52 attached to the leg frame 51. Each of the second arms 501 has a pivotal end 510. The leg support 5 further includes a connecting bar 513 interconnecting the second arms 501 opposite to the pivotal ends 510 of the second arms 501. The leg support 5 is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. In the folded position, the leg rest member 52 is superimposed on the seat portion 421 of the seat member 42. In the unfolded position, the leg rest member 52 extends forwardly from the seat portion 421 of the seat member 42.
In this embodiment, each of the second arms 501 is telescopic, and includes an outer tube 512 having a locking hole 515, an inner rod 511 inserted telescopically into the outer tube 512 and having a through hole 516, and a locking unit 514. The inner rod 511 has the pivotal end 510 connected pivotally to the respective one of the first arms 401. Junctures between the pivotal ends 510 of the second arms 501 and the first arms 401 are formed rearwardly of the front link 403. The locking unit 514 is disposed within the inner tube 511, and functions to lock the outer tube 512 against movement relative to the inner rod 511. The locking unit 514 includes a projection 517 extending through the through hole 516, and a biasing member 518 for biasing the projection 517 outwardly in a conventional manner.
The seat member 42 and the leg rest member 52 are formed as a unitary body which includes a flexible fabric 6 attached to both of the seat member 42 and the leg rest member 52.
When the leg support 5 is folded, as shown in FIG. 2, a user can sit on the leg rest member 52 with his/her back resting on the backrest portion 422 and with his/her feet extending downwardly and freely.
When the leg support 5 is unfolded, as shown in FIG. 5, the leg rest member 52 is pivoted forwardly from the seat portion 421 of the seat member 42 so that the seat portion 421 and the leg rest member 52 lie substantially at the same level. At this time, a portion 61 of the fabric 6 is folded on the front link 403, and the inner rods 511 of the second arms 501 abut against and are supported on the top surface of the front link 403.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the leg support 5 is further movable from the unfolded position to an extended position, in which the leg rest member 52 extends farther forwardly from the seat portion 421, and the folded portion 61 of the fabric 6 is stretched. The outer tube 512 of each second arm 501 is pulled outwardly relative to the inner rod 511 of the corresponding second arm 501 until the locking hole 515 is aligned with the through hole 516. Through the biasing action of the biasing member 518, the projection 517 extends through the through hole 516 and engages the locking hole 515, thereby restricting movement of the outer tube 512 relative to the inner rod 511, and thereby positioning the leg support 5 in the extended position.
Referring to FIG. 8, the left leg support 5 is shown in the unfolded position to illustrate that the lower leg portions of the user can be supported on the leg rest member 52, and the right leg support 5 is shown in the extended position to illustrate that the lower leg portions of a taller user can also be comfortably supported on the leg rest member 52.
Contraction and folding of the leg support 5 is accomplished by first pressing the projections 517 inwardly so as to release engagement between the projections 517 and the locking holes 515. The outer tube 512 can then be sleeved more fully onto the inner rod 511. The leg rest member 52 is then pivoted toward the seat member 42 so as to superimpose on the seat portion 421 of the seat member 42.
It should be noted that the chair units 4 may be increased or decreased in number, the backrest portion 422 may be adjustable relative to the seat portion 421, and the top portion of the swing support frame 1 may be installed with a cover unit (not shown) for providing shade from sunlight and rain. Furthermore, the application of the chair unit 4 of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, and may be applicable to a rocking chair, a leisure chair, etc.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A chair assembly comprising:

a chair unit including

a seat frame having front and rear ends, and left and right first arms extending from said front to rear end;

a seat member attached to said seat frame; and

a leg support including a leg frame that has left and right second arms which are connected pivotally and respectively to said left and right first arms at the vicinity of said front end, and a leg rest member attached to said leg frame, said leg support being movable between a folded position, in which said leg rest member is superimposed on said seat member, and an unfolded position, in which said leg rest member extends forwardly from said seat member.

2. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat frame further includes a rear link interconnecting said first arms, said first arms extending upwardly from said front end toward said rear end and being connected to said rear link at the vicinity of said rear end, said seat member having a backrest portion connected to said rear link.

3. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said second arms has a pivotal end connected pivotally to the respective one of said first arms, said leg support further including a connecting bar interconnecting said second arms opposite to said pivotal ends of said second arms.

4. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said seat member and said leg rest member are formed as a unitary body which includes a flexible fabric attached to both of said seat frame and said leg support.

5. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said second arms is telescopic, and includes an outer tube, and an inner rod inserted telescopically into said outer tube, said inner rod having said pivotal end connected pivotally to the respective one of said first arms.

6. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a locking unit to lock said outer tube against movement relative to said inner rod.

7. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said seat member and said leg rest member lie substantially at the same level when said leg support is in said unfolded position.

8. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a swing support frame, and a swinging unit hung on said swing support frame, said seat frame being connected to said swinging unit.