US3738706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor driven headrest and back for recliner chair
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-30
•
Granted: 1973-06-12
•
Expires: 1991-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A chairback has adapter plates pivotally attached to each side thereof and readily securable to a chair base or seat mount structure. Sector gears on the chairback engage pinions in gearheads mounted to the adapter plates for motor driven tilting of the chairback. A headrest linearly movable vertically in the chairback has a gear rack post extending into the chairback centrally thereof and engaged by a pinion in a gearhead secured to the lower back frame to drive the headrest up or down. Widely spaced slides on the headrest serve as guides and supports therefor. One embodiment includes a chairback cushion vertically movable in response to headrest extension.
Inventors
- 👤 D Caldemeyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:09
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/36; A47C7/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member on said back, and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving said gear members; and additional post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, said additional post means being laterally spaced from said first post means and from each other to prevent turning of said headrest about an axis extending lengthwise of said first post means; said headrest being linearly movable up and down with respect to said chair back; said chair back including first and second back members, said second member having cushion means thereon and being linearly movable up and down with respect to said first back member; said first post means having first laterally extending shoulder means; said second back member having an abutment thereon engageable by said shoulder means as said headrest is moved upwardly with respect to said chair back, to thereupon move said second back member upwardly with respect to said first back member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member on said back, and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving said gear members; and additional post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, said additional post means being laterally spaced from said first post means and from each other to prevent turning of said headrest about an axis extending lengthwise of said first post means; said headrest being linearly movable up and down with respect to said chair back; said chair back including first and second back members, said second member having cushion means thereon and being linearly movable up and down with respect to said first back member; said first post means having first laterally extending shoulder means; said second back member having an abutment thereon engageable by said shoulder means as said headrest is moved upwardly with respect to said chair back, to thereupon move said second back member upwardly with respect to said first back member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein: said shoulder means and said abutment are vertically spaced when said headrest is at its lowermost position with respect to said chair back, to provide some lost motion of said headrest with respect to said second back member during initial movement of said headrest upwardly with respect to said chair back.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, and and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member on said back, and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving sAid gear members; and additional post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, said additional post means being laterally spaced from said first post means and from each other to prevent turning of said headrest about an axis extending lengthwise of said first post means; sector gear means on the lower portion of said chair back; mounting means pivotally connected to said chair for pivoting on a horizontal axis through the center of curvature of said sector gear; a gearhead secured to said mounting means and including a pinion engaged with said sector gear means, said gearhead including input means for drive by a motor to pivot said chair back about said axis on said mount means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, and and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member on said back, and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving sAid gear members; and additional post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, said additional post means being laterally spaced from said first post means and from each other to prevent turning of said headrest about an axis extending lengthwise of said first post means; sector gear means on the lower portion of said chair back; mounting means pivotally connected to said chair for pivoting on a horizontal axis through the center of curvature of said sector gear; a gearhead secured to said mounting means and including a pinion engaged with said sector gear means, said gearhead including input means for drive by a motor to pivot said chair back about said axis on said mount means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein: said motor means includes a plurality of output devices, one of said output devices being connected to said one of said gear members for the drive thereof, another of said output devices being connected to said gearhead for driving said pinion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 4 and further comprising: switch means coupled to said motor means for activation of said motor means and selective activation of said output devices, for operation of said headrest on said chair back, and for operation of said chair back on said mounting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein: said mounting means include members securable to a chair seat supporting structure, and said output devices include flexible drive cables.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 5 and further comprising: a floor mountable seat supporting structure, said mounting means being affixed to said structure whereby said chair back is pivotable backward and forward with respect to said structure by operation of said switch means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member on said back, and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving said gear members; and additional post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, said additional post means being laterally spaced from said first post means and from each other to prevent turning of said headrest about an axis extending lengthwise of said first post means; said additional post means including a pair of slides, said back having a pair of guides receiving said slides therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member on said back, and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving said gear members; and additional post means projecting downward from said headrest into said back, said additional post means being laterally spaced from said first post means and from each other to prevent turning of said headrest about an axis extending lengthwise of said first post means; said additional post means including a pair of slides, said back having a pair of guides receiving said slides therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein: said chair back has a frame including first and second side members at opposite sides of said back, an upper front crossmember connected between upper portions of said side members, and a second crossmember connected between said side members and spaced below said upper crossmember; and each guide of said pair is secured to one of said side members and includes front and rear rails, with one of said slides slidingly received between facing surfaces of said front and rear rails.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein each guide includes a surface facing toward the center of said back and engageable with one of said slides for lateral confinement and guidance of said headrest, the combination further comprising: an upper center post guide on said upper front crossmember and guidingly receiving an upper portion of said first post means therethrough; lower center post guide means on said second crossmember, said lower center post guide means including a low friction bearing device and a pinion spaced therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein: said first gear member is a gear rack; said second gear member is said pinion; said gear rack being provided on a bar portion of said first post means and engaging said bearing device opposite the teeth on said rack and holding said rack in engagement with said pinion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein: said motor means are located on said chair back below said second crossmember and coupled to said pinion through a flexible drive cable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
129 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downwardly from said headrest into said back and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member in said back and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving said gear members; first and second back members, said second member having cushion means thereon and being linearly movable up and down with respect to said first back member; said first post means has first laterally extending shoulder means; said second back member has an abutment thereon engageable by said shoulder means as said headrest is moved upwardly with respect to said chair back, to thereupon move said second back member upwardly with respect to said first back member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
129 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downwardly from said headrest into said back and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member in said back and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving said gear members; first and second back members, said second member having cushion means thereon and being linearly movable up and down with respect to said first back member; said first post means has first laterally extending shoulder means; said second back member has an abutment thereon engageable by said shoulder means as said headrest is moved upwardly with respect to said chair back, to thereupon move said second back member upwardly with respect to said first back member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination of claim 13 wherein: said shoulder means and said abutment are vertically spaced when said headrest is at its lowermost position with respect to said chair back, to provide some lost motion of said headrest with respect to said second back member during initial movement of said headrest upwardly with respect to said chair back.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
127 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downwardly from said headrest into said back and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member in said back and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving said gear members; sector gear means on the lower portion of said chair back; mounting means pivotally connected to said chair back for pivoting on a horizontal axis through the center of curvature of said sector gear means; and a gearhead secured secured to said mounting means and including a pinion engaged with said sector, said gearhead including input means for drive by a motor to pivot said chair back about said axis on said mount means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
The combination comprising: a chair back; a headrest; first post means projecting downwardly from said headrest into said back and having a first gear member thereon; a second gear member in said back and engaging said first gear member; motor means connected to one of said gear members for driving said gear members; sector gear means on the lower portion of said chair back; mounting means pivotally connected to said chair back for pivoting on a horizontal axis through the center of curvature of said sector gear means; and a gearhead secured secured to said mounting means and including a pinion engaged with said sector, said gearhead including input means for drive by a motor to pivot said chair back about said axis on said mount means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 15 wherein: said motor means includes a plurality of output devices, one of said output devices being connected to said one of said gear members for the drive thereof, another of said output devices being connected to said gearhead for driving said pinion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 16 and further comprising: switch means coupled to said motor means for activation of said motor means and selective activation of said output devices, for operation of said headrest on said chair back, and for operation of said chair back on said mounting means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein: said mounting means include members securable to a chair seat supporting structure, and said output devices include flexible drive cables.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
88 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein: said chairback has a frame including first and second headrest support members thereon; each guide of said pair is secured to one of said headrest support members and includes an elongated strip of bearing material extending lengthwise vertically on the front of each of said support members; each of said slides includes an elongated strip of bearing material extending lengthwise vertically on the rear of said headrest and slidingly engaging the said bearing material strip on the front of said support member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 19 wherein: said strip of bearing material on said headrest is a steel strip.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein: said chairback frame includes an upper front crossmember and a second crossmember spaced below said upper crossmember, an upper center post guide is located on said upper front crossmember and guidingly receives an upper portion of said first post means therethrough, and a lower center post guide is mounted on said second crossmember.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
142 words
The combination comprising: a chairback frame haVing wood sidemembers; metal side plates affixed to said side members for mounting said frame to a support therefor; a headrest; first post means projecting downward from said headrest into said chairback; drive means on said chairback and on said post means for moving said headrest relative to said chairback; and bearing means on said chairback frame and said headrest to prevent pivoting of said headrest on said chairback about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said headrest relative to said chairback by said drive means; said chairback frame including first and second forwardly facing bearing means thereon; said headrest including second and third post means having rearwardly facing bearing means thereon sliding engaging said forwardly facing bearing means on said chairback frame during said movement of said headrest relative to said chairback.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
142 words
The combination comprising: a chairback frame haVing wood sidemembers; metal side plates affixed to said side members for mounting said frame to a support therefor; a headrest; first post means projecting downward from said headrest into said chairback; drive means on said chairback and on said post means for moving said headrest relative to said chairback; and bearing means on said chairback frame and said headrest to prevent pivoting of said headrest on said chairback about an axis parallel to the direction of movement of said headrest relative to said chairback by said drive means; said chairback frame including first and second forwardly facing bearing means thereon; said headrest including second and third post means having rearwardly facing bearing means thereon sliding engaging said forwardly facing bearing means on said chairback frame during said movement of said headrest relative to said chairback.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
96 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein: said chairback frame sidemembers include front and rear sidemembers affixed to said side plates, said first and second bearing means being located on said rear sidemembers; additional rearwardly facing bearing means located on said front sidemembers; said first mentioned rearwardly facing bearing means also having forwardly facing bearing surfaces thereon slidingly engaging said additional rearwardly facing bearing means; said second and third post means projecting below the lower margin of said headrest and thereby permitting guided and supported extension of said headrest above the upper margin of said chairback frame.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein: said second and third post means are vertical sidemembers of said headrest.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 24 wherein: said chairback has an upper front crossmember and upper guide means for said first post and mounted to said upper front crossmember and having rearwardly facing guide surface means engaging said first post.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 25 wherein: said upper guide means include laterally facing guide surface means guidingly engaging side margins of said center post.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |