ELECTRIC ROCKING CHAIR

Abstract

An electric rocking chair comprises a chair installed on a support base having a trapezoidal form with the two inclined faces disposed at the front and at the rear sides of the chair, the side's faces supporting the chair. The chair is electrically moved front to back by means of displacement, such as wheels, attached to the front and to the rear under the chair and intended to roll along both inclined faces on a see saw movement operated by means of an electric actuator disposal. The rocking of the chair is performed in two movements, when front wheels are going down along the front inclined face, rear wheels are going up along the rear inclined face, thus inclining the chair forward and the opposite movement inclines the chair backward. Means of maintaining the wheels during the rolling movement can be used, such as a metallic frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention is an improvement of a previous application U.S. Ser. No. 14/093,012 “Electric rocking chair” filed on Nov. 28, 2013 by one of the present inventor.

PRIOR ART

The present invention refers to a previous application U.S. Ser. No. 14/093,012 “Electric rocking chair” by Yvon JACQUES, wherein the rocking movement was made by means of pendulum 48,58 pivotly mounted on the support base 22 of the chair and moved by a rotation assembly 31. The armature 25 of the chair was fixed through its legs 21,23 on said means of pendulum. Four upright corners 54,54′ inwardly directed were delimitating the support to keep the surface of the supports smaller in contact with the armature of the chair for a better stability of the whole.

In the present invention, the junction of the chair to the support base is more simple and stronger while having an innovative automatic rocking dispositive. The support base of the present invention requires less energy to incite the in and out movement, and produces a more constant oscillating movement, smoothly, with no bouncing. The present chair is more powerful and offers greater safety and comfort for users.

Objectives and Advantages

One objective of the present invention is to supply a device capable of inciting an in and out movement with great comfort to a rocking chair.

Another objective is to supply a support base for the chair which has outwardly inclined faces on the front and on the rear sides of the chair to allow the chair to be electrically moved along the inclined faces on a see saw movement producing the in and out movement of the chair. More precisely, a front inclined face is located under the front side of the chair and a rear inclined face is located under the rear side of the chair, and the chair is provided with means of rolling or sliding along each of the two inclined faces. A preferred shape for the support base is a trapezoidal form with the smaller base coinciding with the underside of the chair, and the inclined faces being at the front and at the rear of the chair. During the descent the inclined face is enveloped inside the chair through an aperture. Means to maintain firmly the wheels during the rolling movement can be used, such as a metallic frame. As shown in FIG. 3 a rectangular frame 34 is fixed to the support base through bearings 64,64′ which maintain the wheels firmly.

An electric actuator device, such as an electric actuator or an electric threaded rod, is used to move said means of sliding or rolling along the corresponding inclined face on a see saw movement characterized in that, when the front sided means of rolling/sliding is going down along the front inclined face of the support base, the rear sided means of rolling/sliding is going up along the rear inclined face of the support base, and vice versa, thus permitting the in and out movement of the electric rocking chair. The actuator is driven by an electric motor such us a servo-motor, a brushless motor, or a step-motor coupled with a reducer such as a worm gear, a hypoid gear, or a planetary gear. The preferred rotational speed of the gear is 2 to 20 rpm. The motor reducer preferably uses a 130 DC Volt or 24 DC Volt or AC 208 Volt.

A supplemental electric actuator is also used to lengthen the leg-rest of the electric rocking-chair.

LIST OF RELATED PATENTS

• U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,295 <<Rocking chair>> filed on Feb. 22, 2005.
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,505 <<Chair and mechanism with restrained free rocking and gliding movement>> filed on Aug. 5, 1997.

The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts for easy identification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the electric rocking chair inclined backward.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the electric rocking chair inclined forward.

FIG. 2A is a side view of the rocking chair in use and inclined backward.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the rocking chair in use and inclined forward.

FIG. 3 is an underside view of the support base with the chair above.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view on the underside of the support base.

FIG. 5A is a view of the support base when the chair is inclined forward.

FIG. 5B is a view of the support base when the chair is inclined backward.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rotational assembly at the back of the chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following description and in the accompanying drawings, the numeral numbers refer to identical parts in the various Figures.

FIG. 1A shows the electric rocking chair 20 completely inclined at the back, the chair 22 is fixed on a support base 24 having a front inclined face 28. The front inclined face comprises a linear guide 30 located at the right transversal end, starting from the top of the inclined face to the end; the linear guide is intended to receive a wheel (not shown here) and facilitate its linear displacement. A remote control 52 is placed on an armrest. The whole assembly is installed on a protective floor mat 26 to avoid scratching on the floor or on the carpet.

FIG. 1B shows the electric rocking chair 20 inclined completely at the front, only the protective floor mat 26 is visible under the chair.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B shows a person sitting on the rocking chair; on FIG. 2A the rocking chair is in a backward reclining position, the underside of the chair is aligned on the rear inclined face 28′ of the support base 24. The front wheel 32 is aligned with the front inclined face 28 of the support base. On FIG. 2B the rocking chair is in a forward reclining position, the underside of the chair is aligned on the front inclined face 28 of the support base 24. The rear wheel (not shown here) is completely on the top of the rear inclined face 28′ of the support base. The electric rocking chair comprises a leg-rest 56.

FIG. 3 shows the underside of the chair, and more particularly the support base 24 and a metallic rectangular frame 34 fixed to the underside of the chair and used to fix and maintain the wheels during the rolling movement. Wheels are placed at the corners of the frame; two front wheels 32 and two rear wheels 32. A threaded rod 36 having rotating joints and counter-nuts at its two ends 37,37′ acts on the frame 34 and roll it along the inclined sides; when front wheels 32 are going down along the front inclined face 28, rear wheels 32′ are going up along the rear inclined face 28′. At the inside of the rectangular frame 34 an aperture 44 corresponding to the height of the trapezoidal-shaped is made to cover or envelop the inclined faces during the descent of the wheels. Left and right side faces of the support base are 27,27′.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the underside of the support base 24 with its four faces; two inclined faces 28,28′ and two side's faces 27,27′. The threaded rod 36 which moves the displacement means along the inclined sides of the support base. The functioning of the electric threaded rod which induce a rocking movement is this one: the shaft of the motor driving the threaded rod 36 is equipped with a disk allowing the front end 37 of the threaded rod 36 to rotate about 2 inch radius (about 12.56 inches of circumference). During the rotation of the front end 37 the rear end 37′ which is fixed to a lateral rod 60 of the frame 34 is doing a linear forward-back displacement of 4 inches, thus pushing or pulling the lateral rod 60; when the rear end 37′ is pushing the lateral rod 60 the frame is rolling down along the front inclined face 28 (and rolling up along the rear inclined face 28′), and when the rear end 37′ of the threaded rod is pulling the lateral rod, the frame is rolling up the front inclined face 28 and going down along the rear inclined face 28′. Bearings 64,64′ are used to attach the support base 24 to the frame 34.

FIG. 5A shows the support base 24 with the rear wheels 32′ at the top of the rear inclined face 28′ and the front wheels 32 at the end of the front 28 inclined face such that the electric rocking chair is inclined forward. The rectangular frame 34 is shown enclosing all the wheels at its corners. The frame is attached 54,54′ to the chair, each attachment means comprises alternative height settings. One sees the top part of the electric threaded rod dispositive comprising a motor 50 coupled with a reducer 48 and used to move the threaded rod 36, which displaces the frame 34 along the support base. Another electric threaded rod 38 containing a rod 39 driven by another motor 40 is used to control the leg-rest 52. The electric threaded rod 38 comprises two ends; a first end 39 is controlling the leg-rest and a second end 39′ will be connected to the back of the chair. In the present figure, the rod is pushed forward to lengthen the leg-rest in a horizontal position. The in and out movement of the electric rocking chair is controlled by the electric motor 50.

FIG. 5B is showing the support base 24 with the front wheels 32 at the top of the front inclined face 28 and the rear wheels 32′ at the end of the rear 28′ inclined face such that the electric rocking chair is inclined backward.

FIG. 6 shows a control box 42 regulating both motors 40,50 said box installed in a recessed made in the back of the rocking chair above the support base 24. The box could be installed on the floor. A rear linear guide 30′ for the wheel 32′ is shown on the rear inclined face 28′. One sees the left 27 and right 27′ inclined faces of the support base.

SUMMARY

An electric rocking chair 20 includes a chair 22 mounted on a support base 24, and in between a metallic frame 34 is attached 54,54′ to the chair and oscillates on a see saw movement along the support base, thus rocking the chair.

More particularly, the support base includes side's faces 27,27′ and front 28 and rear inclined faces 28′ outwardly directed and respectively disposed at the front side and at the rear side of the chair. A trapezoidal shape is the preferred form of such support base.

The chair includes means of displacement along each of both inclined faces; front means of displacement along the front inclined face, and rear means of displacement along the rear inclined face. A particular means of displacement are wheels rolling along the inclined faces on linear guides made of a material facilitating the displacement of the wheels. Means of displacement could be replaced by slide profiles, or linear ball bearing guide.

The linear guides are used more particularly for the wheels on the left side face 27 of the trapezoidal-shape.

A threaded rod 36 device of an electric threaded rod dispositive having rotating joints equipped with counter-nuts is disposed such that both ends are connected to the frame 34 for moving it along the inclined sides on a see saw movement. When front wheels 32 attached to the frame are going down along the front inclined face 28, rear wheels 32′ are going up along the rear inclined face 28′.

The frame may comprise a lateral rod 60 on which the threaded rod acts, more precisely the threaded rod 36 comprises a front end 37 and a rear end 37′, the rear end acts on the lateral rod, and the front end 37 is doing a linear forward-back displacement of about 4 inches; thus pushing or pulling the lateral rod 60. When the rear end 37′ is pushing the lateral rod 60 the frame is rolling down along the front inclined face 28 (and rolling up along the rear inclined face 28′), and when the rear end 37′ of the threaded rod is pulling the lateral rod, the frame is rolling up the front inclined face 28 and going down along the rear inclined face 28′. Bearings 64,64′ are used to attach the support base 24 to the frame 34.

The threaded rod 36 is driven by an electric motor 50 such as a servo-motor, a brush less motor, or a step-motor coupled with a reducer.

The reducer is a worm gear, a hypoid gear, or a planetary gear. The preferred rotational speed of the gear is 2 to 20 rpm. The rocking is commanded by a remote control 52 allowing a user to choose a preferred speed of rocking.

The electric motor 50 coupled with the reducer can be replaced by a linear programmable electric actuator. This unit will permit to control the speed acceleration or the speed deceleration of the in and out movement of the rocking chair.

At the inside of the rectangular frame 34 an aperture 44 corresponding to the height of the trapezoidal-shaped is made to envelop the inclined faces during the descent of the wheels.

A supplemental actuator device 38 can also be used to lengthen the leg-rest 52 of the electric rocking-chair 20. The supplemental electric actuator is driven by a motor 40 driving the rod 39 which lengthens the leg-rest. A control box is used to regulate both motors 40,50.

It is to be clearly understood that the instant description with reference to the annexed drawing is made in an indicative manner and that the preferred embodiments described herein are meant in no way to limit further embodiments realizable within the scope of the invention. The matter which is claimed as being inventive and new is limited only by the following claims.

PARTS

• 20 Electric rocking chair
• 22 Chair
• 24 Support base
• 26 A protective floor mat
• 27,27′ Left and right side faces of the support base
• 28,28′ Front and rear inclined faces of the support base
• 30,30′ Front and rear linear guides
• 32,32′ Front and rear wheels
• 34 Rectangular metallic frame
• 36 Threaded rod
• 37,37′ Both ends of the rod 38
• 38 A rod driving the leg-rest
• 39 Threaded rod pushing or pulling the leg-rest
• 40 Motor driving the leg-rest
• 42,42′ Shafts of the front and the rear wheels
• 44 Aperture
• 46 Box control
• 48 A reducer coupled with the electric motor 50
• 50 Electric motor driving the threaded rod 36
• 52 Remote control
• 54,54 Attachment means of the frame 34 to the chair
• 56 Leg-rest
• 58,58′ Rotating joints
• 60 Lateral rod bar on the frame
• 64,64′ Bearings attaching the support base 24 to the frame 34

Claims

1. An electric rocking chair (20) comprising a chair (22) mounted on a support base (24) in combination with means of electric actuator;

said support base containing a front inclined face (28) and a rear inclined face (28′) outwardly directed and respectively disposed at the front side and at the rear side of said chair;

said chair containing on the underside means of displacement to be moved along each of both said inclined faces; front means of displacement to be moved along said front inclined face, and rear means of displacement along said rear inclined face;

said means of electric actuator containing a threaded rod (36) acting on both said means of displacement and moving them along their corresponding inclined face on a see saw movement in order that when said front means of displacement is going down on said front inclined face, said rear means of displacement is going up along the rear inclined face, and when said front means of displacement is going up on said front inclined face, said rear means of displacement is going down along the rear inclined face; thereby causing a rocking movement of said seat along said support base, said threaded rod is driven by an electric motor (50).

2. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein a transversal cut-out of said support base has a trapezoidal shape.

3. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said means of displacement are means of wheels rolling along said inclined faces.

4. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said means of displacement are slide profiles.

5. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said means of displacement are linear ball bearing guide.

6. The electric rocking chair of claims 3 and 4 wherein said means of displacement are maintained by means of metallic frame (34) for avoiding the failure of the chair, therefore said threaded rod act on said means of frame, and said frame is rolling along said inclined faces of said support base by means of displacement attached on.

7. The electric rocking chair of claims 3 and 4 wherein said inclined faces comprising means of linear guides where on roll said means of wheels, said linear guides are made on a material facilitating the displacement of said means of displacement.

8. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein a supplemental electric actuator dispositive (38) is used to lengthen the leg-rest (52).

9. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said electric motor (50) is coupled with a worm gear reducing the rotational speed between 2 rpm to 20 rpm and driving said electric actuator device.

10. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said electric motor is coupled with a hypoid gear reducing the rotational speed between 2 rpm to 20 rpm and driving said electric actuator device.

11. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said electric motor is coupled with a planetary gear reducing the rotational speed between 2 rpm to 20 rpm and driving said electric actuator device.

12. The electric rocking chair of claims 6, 7 and 8 wherein said electric motor is a step motor.

13. The electric rocking chair of claims 6, 7 and 8 wherein said electric motor is a servo-motor.

14. The electric rocking chair of claims 6, 7 and 8 wherein said electric motor is a brushless motor.

15. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein the rocking is controlled by a remote control allowing to choose a preferred rocking speed.

16. The electric rocking chair of claim 1 wherein said means of electric actuator is a linear electric actuator device, said linear electric actuator device controls the speed acceleration and the speed deceleration of the in and out movement of the rocking chair.