US4974904A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rocking chair apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-10-23
•
Granted: 1990-12-04
•
Expires: 2009-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A hemisphere with an integral outer flange is attached to the flat bottom surface of a chair. A cone shaped base depends from the convex bottom of the hemisphere and is separated from the hemisphere by an annular member having a multiplicity of roller bearings seated on its top surface and in contact with the convex surface of the hemisphere. The cone base has a flat bottom plate connected to the first end of a turn-buckle. A second end of the turn-buckle is connected to a spring connected in turn to the hemisphere. An increase or decrease in the tension exerted on the the spring controls the degree of rocking of the chair.
Inventors
- 👤 E. Lakin Phillips
- 👤 Bernardino Romero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:11
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C9/00; A47C9/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A rocking chair comprising: a seat member having a planar bottom surface, front and back edges and side edges with an upright back rest attached to the seat member over the back edge,. a hemisphere having a convex surface facing downwardly and having an integral outer planar flange around its widest periphery attached to the bottom surface of the seat member, an annular member containing on an upper surface multiple spaced apart ball bearings in contact with a bottom portion of the convex surface and a lower surface of the annular member seated within a narrow upper end of a cone shaped base member, a wider lower end of the cone shaped base member incorporating a base plate, an adjustable holding member attached to a spring member located centrally within the base member joining the base plate under spring tension to a bottom of the convex surface and the spring tension being governed by changes to the adjustable holding member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A rocking chair comprising: a seat member having a planar bottom surface, front and back edges and side edges with an upright back rest attached to the seat member over the back edge,. a hemisphere having a convex surface facing downwardly and having an integral outer planar flange around its widest periphery attached to the bottom surface of the seat member, an annular member containing on an upper surface multiple spaced apart ball bearings in contact with a bottom portion of the convex surface and a lower surface of the annular member seated within a narrow upper end of a cone shaped base member, a wider lower end of the cone shaped base member incorporating a base plate, an adjustable holding member attached to a spring member located centrally within the base member joining the base plate under spring tension to a bottom of the convex surface and the spring tension being governed by changes to the adjustable holding member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The rocking chair according to claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the annular member contains multiple concave indentations for seating the ball bearings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The rocking chair according to claim 2 wherein the lower surface of the annular member is seated within an annular groove of the cone shaped base member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The rocking chair according to claim 1 wherein the base plate is an annular plate having a center portion joined to a rim by multiple radial arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The rocking chair according to claim 4 wherein the center portion of the base plate is connected to a first end of a turn-buckle and a second end of the turn-buckle is connected to a spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The rocking chair according to claim 5 wherein the spring is connected to the turn-buckle at a first end and to a lowest portion of the convex surface at its second end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The rocking chair according to claim 1 wherein the spring tension is adjusted by turning a turn-buckle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
A rocking chair comprising a seat member and a back rest, a having a convex surface facing downwardly hemisphere having an integral outer flange around its widest periphery, the flange affixed to a lower surface of the seat member, an annular member containing multiple ball bearings seated on an upper surface of the annular member in contact with a lower portion of the convex surface, a lower surface of the annular member in contact with an upper portion of a cone shaped base member, a lower portion of the cone shaped base member incorporating a circular plate having multiple radial arms connecting a rim and a center portion of the plate, a spring member connecting at a second end to the lower portion of the convex surface and at a first end to a means for adjusting spring tension the means for adjusting spring tension being attached to the spring at a second end and to the center portion of the plate at a first end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
166 words
A rocking chair comprising a seat member and a back rest, a having a convex surface facing downwardly hemisphere having an integral outer flange around its widest periphery, the flange affixed to a lower surface of the seat member, an annular member containing multiple ball bearings seated on an upper surface of the annular member in contact with a lower portion of the convex surface, a lower surface of the annular member in contact with an upper portion of a cone shaped base member, a lower portion of the cone shaped base member incorporating a circular plate having multiple radial arms connecting a rim and a center portion of the plate, a spring member connecting at a second end to the lower portion of the convex surface and at a first end to a means for adjusting spring tension the means for adjusting spring tension being attached to the spring at a second end and to the center portion of the plate at a first end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The rocking chair according to claim 8 wherein the means for adjusting spring tension is a turn-buckle attached to the spring at a second end and attached to the center portion of the plate at a first end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rocking chair according to claim 8 wherein seven ball bearings are seated in the upper surface of the annular member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US648916A
Cited
US718394A
Cited
US1279229A
Cited
US2689599A
Cited
US2964094A
Cited
US3374981A
Cited
US3333811A
Cited
GB1138328A
Cited
US3659895A
Cited
US4768829A
Cited
US4598946A
Cited
US4736984A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-03 | 1994-06-04 | 1994-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-03 | 1998-06-04 | 1998-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-03 | 2002-06-04 | 2002-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |