ADIRONDACK-STYLE CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED COMFORT AND SUPPORT

Abstract

An Adirondack-style chair having a back with a curvate conformation providing enhanced comfort and support to a user, in relation to planar back structures traditionally used for such type chairs. The back can have a flattened S-shaped conformation, with an upper section having a curvature in a range of from 20-40 degrees and a lower section having a curvature in a range of from 40-60 degrees, as complementary angles to the angle that is included by the tangents to the ends of the curved sections.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/262,162 filed on Nov. 18, 2009 in the names of Barbara J. Roeder and Jeffrey F. Roeder for “ADIRONDACK-STYLE CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED COMFORT AND SUPPORT” is hereby claimed under the provisions of 35 USC 119(e).

FIELD

The present invention relates to a chair, in the category of rustic and/or casual furniture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Rustic, Adirondack-style chairs are constructed of simple forms, typically utilizing plank lumber as the primary material of construction. Synthetic varieties also exist, generally composed of polymeric or filled polymeric materials that simulate wood in appearance.

Adirondack chairs are typically used in outdoor locations, and have been well-established in the field of outdoor furniture since the earliest twentieth century. The traditional design includes straight back and seat portions, set at a slant, with wide armrests. An early Adirondack-type chair is described in U.S. Pat. No. 794,777 to Harry Bunnell. Adirondack-type chairs have recently become popular in outdoor seating at restaurants and coffee bars, because their flat armrests facilitate placement of food and drinks, without the necessity of tables.

Based on the generic design concept of the planking, most examples obtain their various shapes of curvature from components cut from planar materials and retain substantially planar properties in the component parts of the chair.

Although curved seats are well known, formed by utilizing strip-like components attached to curved supports, the back support of Adirondack-style chairs has continued to be constituted by a flat planar structure, as fundamental to its traditional appearance.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to an improved Adirondack-style chair having improved comfort and support characteristics.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to an Adirondack-style chair, having a back that is shaped to more closely resemble to the curvature of a human spine, e.g., with an upper (thoracic) section having a curvature in a range of from 20-40 degrees and a lower (lumbar) section having a curvature in a range of from 40-60 degrees, as complementary angles to the angle that is included by the tangents to the ends of the curved sections.

In a further aspect, the back of the chair is sculpted to provide lumbar support, by the back having a flattened S-shape in elevational profile.

In another aspect, the back of the chair is sculpted to curve to the upper back, increasing support and comfort.

In a still further aspect, the chair allows for adjustment of the height of the back and the inclination of the back with respect to the seat.

In yet another aspect, the chair provides for adjustment of the height of the front of the seat.

In still another aspect, different construction methods are provided to achieve the desired curvature of the back support. For example, the chair back may have a pre-shaped conformation, at a lower range of normal back curvature, with a mechanical displacement assembly that translates the lumbar portion of the back and/or the thoracic portion of the back forwardly or rearwardly as desired, to change, i.e., increase or decrease, the degree of curvature at those sections of the chair back.

Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic of the improved chair design showing a sculpted back support with vertical members that contact the human back.

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic of the chair back support member showing forward to backward adjustment capability.

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic of the lower support member of the chair and front leg showing up and down adjustment capability.

FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing of an alternative back configuration with horizontal back support members.

FIG. 5 is a perspective drawing of the rear of the back with a cam device to raise and lower the back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an Adirondack-style chair having a back shaped to more closely resemble the curvature of a human spine, to enhance the comfort and support afforded by the chair.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to an Adirondack-style chair, having a back that is shaped to more closely resemble the curvature of a human spine, with an upper (thoracic) section having a curvature in a range of from 20-40 degrees and a lower (lumbar) section having a curvature in a range of from 40-60 degrees, as complementary angles to the angle that is included by the tangents to the ends of the curved sections.

In a further aspect, the back of the chair can be sculpted to provide lumbar support and/or support to the upper back, by the back having a flattened S-shape in elevational profile.

In one embodiment, the chair allows for adjustment of the height of the back and the inclination of the back with respect to the seat.

In another embodiment, the chair is constructed and arranged to provide for adjustment of the height of the front of the seat.

In still another embodiment, the chair back may have a pre-shaped conformation, at a lower range of normal back curvature, with a mechanical displacement assembly that translates the lumbar portion of the back and/or the thoracic portion of the back forwardly or rearwardly as desired, to change, i.e., increase or decrease, the degree of curvature at those sections of the chair back.

The Andirondack-style chair of the present invention is improved with respect to comfort and support, in relation to a corresponding Andirondack-style chair lacking the spinal curvature-tracking conformation of the Andirondack-style chair of the present invention.

The invention contemplates Adirondack-style chairs having customized spinal curvature-tracking conformations, for specific users, but more broadly provides a non-planar back structure that has a degree of curvature that provides enhanced support and comfort, in relation to a planar back Andirondack-style chair, for general use.

The curvature or curvate conformation of the back of the chairs of the present invention may include curvature of 20-40 degrees for the thoracic curvature region of the chair back and 40-60 degrees for the lumbar curvature region of the chair back, as the complimentary angles to the angle included by the tangents to the ends of the curved regions.

See in this respect http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1277.html, http://www.ajronline org/cgi/reprint/134/5/979—“Thoracic Kyphosis, Range in Normal Subjects,” G. T. Fon, et al., American Journal of Roentegenology, 134, 1980, 979-983, and http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aob/v14n4/en a03v14n4.pdf—LUMBAR LORDOSIS: A STUDY OF ANGLE VALUES AND OF VERTEBRAL BODIES AND INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS ROLE,” L.H. FONSECA DAMASCENO, ACTA ORTOP BRAS 14(4)-2006 193, the disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their respective entireties.

The chair of the invention can be fabricated to include a back panel having a lower convexly curved lumbar supporting portion and a concavely contoured upper portion.

In one aspect, the back of the chair is sculpted to provide lumbar support.

In another aspect, the back of the chair is sculpted to curve to the upper back, also increasing support and comfort. This is more clearly appreciated in the perspective drawing in FIG. 1, wherein the back 1 has an outward curve near its intersection with the seat 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic of the improved chair design, in one embodiment thereof, showing a sculpted back support with vertical members that contact the human back.

The outward curve provides lumbar support for the lower spine and follows the natural curve of the back of the human body. The back 1 also has a curve inward in the upper region in a direction opposed to the lower curve that allows for more full and comfortable contact with the upper back. The back may be constructed of vertical slats that are formed to the desired shape by sawing from a thick billet. They may also be formed from flat slats that are bent according to known principles such as steam bending, wherein the slats are first heated in steam, and subsequently bent or formed around a mandrel corresponding to the desired curvature, and allowed to cool, thus being stabilized in the desired state of curvature. They may also be formed by laminating thin flexible strips in a suitable form to create a composite structure retaining the desired shape.

The vertical slats are held together by horizontal cross bars 3, 4. The back may also have compound curvature, i.e., the cross bars 3, 4 may also be curved in a direction perpendicular to the width of the cross bar member. This may alternatively be described as a direction tangential to the longitude of the back and parallel to the plane of the floor, e.g., a planar support surface, upon which the chair rests. An adjustable lumbar curvature achieved by means of suitable mechanical adjustment may also be advantageous.

The rest of the chair is designed according to the traditional Adirondack-type pattern, with the seat slats 2 supported on curved stringers 5 to correspond to the curvature of the thighs and buttocks. The stringers are supported by front legs 6. The front legs 6 also support the arm rests 7. A rear vertical support 8 connects to a horizontal support 9 that holds the back of the chair in the desired position relative to the seat.

It is appreciated that not all bodies are the same and that various adjustments can be provided to accommodate different body heights, leg lengths, and lumber locations. Therefore, in a further embodiment, the chair allows for adjustment of the height of the back and the inclination of the back with respect to the seat. This may be accomplished by moving the lower horizontal crossbar 4 together with the seat back 1 up and down with respect to the stringer 6, either permanently, or with a shim, jack screw, or other adjustment mechanism that can be used repetitively to accommodate the chair to different users.

A sub-assembly shown in FIG. 2 illustrates one method of achieving the desired forward and back adjustment of the inclination of the back of the chair with respect to the seat. A movable support 10 may be positioned at different forward or backward positions by means of fasteners placed through the corresponding holes in the horizontal support 9 that are disposed in a line forwardly and backwardly with respect to the chair back. Suitable fasteners include bolts and nuts, or pins, which may be removable to allow repeated adjustments as desired by the user. Alternatively, a jack screw mechanism could be used to move the back 1 to a desired position.

In yet another aspect, the chair provides for adjustment of the height of the front of the seat. FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic of the connection of the front leg 6 to the stringer 5. Adjustment is accomplished by selecting the appropriate hole in the stringer that corresponds to the most comfortable position of the height of the front of the seat 2. Suitable fasteners include bolt and nut assemblies, or pins, which may be removable to allow repeated adjustments as may be desired by the user. Alternatively, a jack screw mechanism could be used to raise and lower the front of the seat 2.

In still another aspect, different construction methods are provided to achieve the desired curvature of the back support. For example, horizontal slats 11 may be substituted for vertical slats in the chair back 13 as shown in FIG. 4. The desired sculpted curvature is accomplished by curved stringers 12. The stringers 12 may optionally have multiple holes toward the bottom to allow for vertical adjustment with respect to the seat stringers 5. The back may also be curved perpendicular to its longitudinal direction for a compound sculpting.

Upward and downward adjustment of the back may be accomplished by moving the back up and down and fastening it through different holes in the curved stringers 12. Alternatively, a cam type adjustment may be employed as shown in FIG. 5. By rotating the cams 14 the back may be raised and lowered by the action of the cams resting on a horizontal slat 2 to the rear of the back that is attached to the stringers 5.

While the description to this point has assumed that the material of construction of the chair is wood, other suitable materials may be used, for example, plastics, composite materials, metal, or combinations thereof.

The forgoing description is intended to give a general outline of an improved Adirondack-style chair with sculpted back rest and a variety of adjustable features to allow it to be readily tailored to the desires of the user. It will be appreciated that other variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art and the foregoing description is not intended to be limiting, but rather to be construed broadly with respect to this design. It will further be appreciated that the design may be augmented and enhanced by other features, for example contoured cushions, relief of edges at various locations, and the like.

Claims

1. An Adirondack-style chair with a curved back wherein the curvature conforms substantially to the human back, providing enhanced support and comfort.

2. The chair of claim 1 with an outward curvature to the lower region of the back providing support to the lumbar region of the spine.

3. The chair of claim 1 wherein the back has an inward curvature to an upper back region.

4. The chair of claim 1 wherein the back has additional curvature along a side to side arc.

5. The chair of claim 1 wherein the back is adjustable forwardly and backwardly to change the angle of inclination with respect to a seat thereof.

6. The chair of claim 1 comprising a seat that is adjustable upwards and downwards at a front part thereof.

7. The chair of claim 1 wherein the back comprises slats that are vertically positioned with respect to the chair.

8. The chair of claim 1 wherein the back comprises slats that are horizontally positioned with respect to the chair.

9. The chair of claim 1 whose materials of construction comprise one or more materials selected from among wood, plastic, composite materials, and metal.

10. The chair of claim 1 whose materials of construction predominantly comprise wood.

11. The chair of claim 1 constructed and arranged for adjustment of height of the back and inclination of the back with respect to a seat portion thereof.

12. An Adirondack-style chair, having a back that is shaped to resemble curvature of a human spine, with an upper section having a curvature in a range of from 20-40 degrees and a lower section having a curvature in a range of from 40-60 degrees, as complementary angles to the angle that is included by the tangents to the ends of the curved sections.

13. An Adirondack-style chair, having a back with a flattened S-shape in side elevational profile.

14. The chair of claim 13 having a pre-shaped conformation of the back, at a lower range of normal back curvature, with a mechanical displacement assembly that translates the lumbar portion of the back and/or the thoracic portion of the back forwardly or rearwardly as desired, to change the degree of curvature at those sections of the chair back.

15. The chair of claim 13 whose materials of construction comprise one or more materials selected from among wood, plastic, composite materials, and metal.

16. The chair of claim 13 further comprising cam elements arranged for manual rotation to effect vertical adjustment of said back.