Chairs and seats – Movable back – Tiltable
Patent
1998-12-03
2000-05-23
Brown, Peter R.
Chairs and seats
Movable back
Tiltable
2972173, 297327, 601 49, A47C 1032, A61H 1500
Patent
active
060658061
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELDS
The present invention relates to a massaging device of a chair-type with a reclining backrest which incorporates a massaging mechanism of producing a massaging action.
BACKGROUND ART
For a massaging device with a backrest incorporating a massaging mechanism, a user can enjoy being massaged in a more relaxed manner with the backrest being reclined. Thus, the backrest is pivotally supported to a base to be rotatable about a pivot axis within a limited angular range and is caused by a reclining mechanism to freely rotate to a desired angular position and is held thereat. The reclining mechanism includes a gas-filled cylinder, an extensible plunger extending from the cylinder, and an actuator provided at one end of the plunger. One of the cylinder and the plunger is connected to a base, while the other of the cylinder and the plunger is pivotally connected to a lower end of the backrest at a point spaced from the pivot axis. The actuator is provided to open and close an internal valve of the cylinder for permitting a gas to move within the cylinder upon being actuated and therefore permitting the plunger to move relative to the cylinder, thereby causing the backrest to rotate about the pivot axis in correspondence to a load applied to the backrest. The actuator is connected to be actuated by operating a handle mounted on the base at a position below the seat. Due to the structural restriction that the actuator is provided on the side of the plunger, the handle for moving the actuator is located on a portion of the base below the seat and the backrest and adjacent to the reclining mechanism. Although thus located handle can be reached by a user's finger when the backrest is in an upright position, it is difficult to be reached by the fingers when the backrest is in a leaned position.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above insufficiency and has an object of providing a massaging device which is capable of easily achieving a reclining operation. The massaging device in accordance with the present invention includes a base supporting a seat and a backrest rotatable about a pivot axis about a limited angular range. Mounted within the backrest is a massaging mechanism which includes an applicator giving a massaging action to a user. A pair of armrests extend on opposite sides of the seat and the backrest. The massaging device includes a reclining mechanism for selectively holding the backrest at a position about the pivot axis within the angular range and permitting the bracket to rotate about the pivot axis within the angular range. A handle, which is connected to actuate the reclining mechanism for permitting the backrest to rotate, is mounted on a lower surface of one of the armrests at a location upwardly of the seat. With this arrangement, the handle can be within a reach of the user's fingers even the backrest is fully inclined to a leaned position, and therefore could be easily manipulated by the user. Also, since the handle is mounted on the lower surface of the armrest, it is free from being inadvertently actuated when the handle is not intended to be operated.
Preferably, the seat is fixed to the backrest to be rotatable about the pivot axis together with the backrest. The handle is located upwardly of thus rotatable seat irrespective of any angular position of the backrest permitted to rotate about the pivot axis.
Each of the armrests is of a hollow structure and shaped into an upwardly convexed arcuate configuration and is connected at opposite arcuate ends thereof to a hollow support member fixed to the base. The reclining mechanism comprises a cylinder, an extensible plunger extending from the cylinder, and an actuator projecting from said plunger to permit the plunger to extend and retract from the cylinder when being pressed and otherwise lock the plunger. The cylinder is connected to the base at one end opposite of the plunger, while the plunger is connected at a distal end thereof to a lower end of the backrest at a point
REFERENCES:
patent: 2132525 (1938-10-01), Burchall
patent: 2776704 (1957-01-01), Moore et al.
patent: 5813727 (1998-09-01), Sugawa et al.
patent: 5836900 (1998-11-01), Leventhal
patent: 5899530 (1999-05-01), Tedesco
Fukutani Makoto
Masutani Eiji
Miyaguchi Masamichi
Nishio Fumihiro
Sayama Naoto
Brown Peter R.
Matsushita Electric & Works Ltd.
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