초록 ▼

Mechanism for supporting and permitting selected adjustment of the position of a headrest relative to the back of a chair includes an elongate housing, support brackets pivotally connected adjacent opposite ends of the body, and a plurality of interleaved elongate plate members extending longitudina

Mechanism for supporting and permitting selected adjustment of the position of a headrest relative to the back of a chair includes an elongate housing, support brackets pivotally connected adjacent opposite ends of the body, and a plurality of interleaved elongate plate members extending longitudinally of the body and movable relative thereto, with opposite ends of the interleaved plate members pivotally connected to the brackets. Clamping mechanism is provided for releasably clamping interleaved portions of the plate members to hold them, and their associated brackets, in selected positions. A slide mechanism mounts a headrest permitting translational movement of the headrest relative to the mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A mechanism for supporting and permitting selected adjustment of the position of a headrest relative to a back of a chair, the mechanism comprisingan elongate mounting body, a first bracket to which a headrest may be connected, said first bracket being pivotally connected at a first pivot adjacen

1. A mechanism for supporting and permitting selected adjustment of the position of a headrest relative to a back of a chair, the mechanism comprisingan elongate mounting body, a first bracket to which a headrest may be connected, said first bracket being pivotally connected at a first pivot adjacent one end of said body, a second bracket for connecting to the chair back, said second bracket being pivotally connected at a second pivot adjacent an end of said body opposite said one end, a plurality of elongate parallel first plate members pivotally connected adjacent one set of their ends to said first bracket at a third pivot in a region spaced from said first pivot, said first plate members extending longitudinally of said body toward the opposite end of said body, said first plate members having elongate longitudinally extending first slots formed therein spaced from said third pivot, a plurality of elongate parallel second plate members pivotally connected adjacent one set of their ends to said second bracket at a fourth pivot in a region spaced from said second pivot, said second plate members extending longitudinally of said body toward said one end of the body, said second plate members having elongate longitudinally extending second slots formed therein spaced from said fourth pivot, said second plate members being interleaved with said first plate members in a region intermediate opposite ends of said body, with portions of said first and second slots aligned, a plate abutment adjacent one side of said body, an elongate locking member extending transversely of said body and slidably through aligned portions of said first and second slots, said locking member having a bearing portion thereon positioned to engage a plate member on the side of said interleaved portions of said first and second plate members opposite said abutment, biasing means urging said bearing portion toward said abutment to clamp said first and second plate members into a locking engagement to secure said first and second brackets against rotation about said first and second pivots, and a release mechanism manually operable to shift said bearing portion in a direction away from said abutment to permit relative sliding movement between said first plate members and said second plate members to adjust the angular positions of the first and second brackets relative to the body. 2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said locking member is secured against movement longitudinally of said body and said first plate members are mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said locking member independently of said second plate members.3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first and second pivots have pivot axes which are parallel to each other.4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first, second, third and fourth pivots have pivot axes which are parallel to each other.5. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein said locking member has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to said pivot axes.6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said locking member and bearing portion are movable laterally of the body between locking and release positions, and said biasing means comprises a spring urging said locking member toward said locking position.7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein said spring comprises a spring washer interposed between a side of said body and said locking member.8. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein said spring washer is a Bellville washer.9. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said release mechanism comprises an elongate lever pivotally connected to said body at a lever pivot in a region adjacent said locking member and having an operating portion positioned to engage said locking member to move said bearing portion in a direction away from said abutment when the lever is swung in one direction about said lever pivot.10. The mechanism of claim 9, wherein said lever has a user-engaging portion spaced from said lever pivot a first distance which is a multiple of the distance between said lever pivot and said operating portion.11. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first plate members and said first slots are aligned transversely of said first plate members.12. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said second plate members and said second slots are aligned transversely of said second plate members.13. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said body comprises an elongate housing having opposed spaced apart top and bottom walls and spaced apart opposed side walls defining an enclosure, said housing having a selected width and height, with the width greater than the height, and said first and second plate members are enclosed in said housing.14. A mechanism for supporting a headrest relative to a back of a chair and permitting selected adjustment of the position of the headrest relative to the back, the mechanism comprisingan elongate mounting body, a first bracket to which a headrest may be connected, said first bracket being pivotally connected at a first pivot adjacent one end of said body and having a first lever arm portion extending laterally of the first pivot, a second bracket for connecting to the chair back, said second bracket being pivotally connected at a second pivot adjacent the end of said body opposite said one end and having a second lever arm portion extending laterally of the second pivot, a set of elongate parallel first plate members pivotally connected at a third pivot adjacent one set of their ends to said first lever arm in a region spaced from said first pivot, said first plate members extending longitudinally of said body toward the opposite end of said body, said first members having first elongate longitudinally extending slots formed therein spaced longitudinally of said first plate members from said third pivot, a set of elongate parallel second plate members pivotally connected at a fourth pivot adjacent one set of their ends to said second lever arm in a region spaced from said second pivot, said second plate members extending longitudinally of said body toward said one end of the body, said second members having elongate longitudinally extending second slots formed therein spaced longitudinally of said second plate members from said fourth pivot, slotted portions of said second plate members being interleaved with said slotted portions of said first plate members in a region intermediate opposite ends of said body, an elongate alignment member extending transversely of said body and slidably through aligned portions of said first and second slots in said plate members, a clamping mechanism operable to clamp said interleaved portions of said first and second plate members into frictional locking contact to hold the plate members against movement relative to each other to hold said first and second brackets in selected angular positions relative to said body, and a release mechanism manually operable to temporarily release said clamping mechanism to permit relative sliding movement between said first plate members and said second plate members to permit adjustment of the angular positions of said first and second brackets relative to said body. 15. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein said clamping mechanism comprises a bearing portion thereon positioned to engage a plate member adjacent one side of a set of the interleaved plate portions and biasing means urging the bearing portion toward said plate members.16. The mechanism of claim 15, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.17. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein said clamping mechanism is secured against movement longitudinally of said body to restrict movement of said plate members relative to said body when said clamping mechanism clamps said interleaved portions of said first and second plate members into frictional locking contact.18. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein said first pivot, second pivot, third pivot, and fourth pivot are parallel to each other and extend laterally of said body.19. A mechanism for supporting and permitting selected adjustment of a headrest relative to a back of a chair, the mechanism comprisingan elongate mounting body, a set of elongate parallel first plate members extending and movable longitudinally of said body, said first plate members having longitudinally extending first slots formed therein, said first plate members and first slots being aligned transversely of said set of elongate parallel first plate members, a set of elongate parallel second plate members extending and movable longitudinally of said body, said second plate members having longitudinally extending second slots formed therein, said second plate members and second slots being aligned transversely of said set of elongate parallel second plate members, portions of said second plate members being interleaved with portions of said first plate members in regions of said first and second slots, and portions of said first slots aligned with portions of said second slots, a first bracket to which a headrest may be connected pivotally connected at a first pivot to one end of said body, with outer end portions of said first plate members pivotally connected to said first bracket in a region spaced from said first pivot, a second bracket for connecting to said chair back pivotally connected at a second pivot to the end of the body opposite said one end, with outer end portions of said second plate members pivotally connected to said second bracket in a region spaced from said second pivot, an elongate rod extending transversely of said plate members slidably through said aligned portions of said first and second slots, a bearing member positioned to engage a plate member at one side of a set of plate members, a spring urging said bearing member in one direction whereby said bearing member forces said interleaved portions of said first and second plate members into frictional locking engagement to hold said first and second brackets in selected positions relative to said body, and a release mechanism manually operable for shifting said bearing member in a direction opposite said one direction to permit sliding movement of said plate members relative to said body to permit angular adjustment of the first and second brackets relative to said body. 20. A mechanism for supporting and permitting adjustment of the position of a headrest relative to a back of a chair, the mechanism comprisinga housing having opposed ends, a central region between said opposed ends, opposed spaced apart top and bottom walls and spaced apart opposed side walls defining an enclosure, said housing having a selected width and height, a headrest support bracket pivotally connected at a first pivot spaced outwardly from a central region of said housing toward one end of said housing, with the axis of said first pivot extending widthwise of said housing, and a first lever arm extending laterally of said first pivot axis, a back support bracket pivotally connected at a second pivot spaced outwardly from a central region of said housing toward an end of said housing opposite said one end, with the axis of said second pivot extending widthwise of said housing, and a second lever arm extending laterally of said second pivot axis, a set of parallel first plate members pivotally connected adjacent one set of their ends to said first lever arm at a third pivot in a region spaced from said first pivot, said first plate members extending toward the opposite end of the housing and movable longitudinally in said enclosure, a set of parallel second plate members pivotally connected adjacent one set of their ends to said second lever arm at a fourth pivot in a region spaced from said second pivot, said second plate members extending toward said one end of the body and movable longitudinally in said enclosure, with portions of said second plate members being interleaved with portions of said first plate members in said central region, a clamping mechanism operable to clamp said interleaved portions of said first and second plate members into locking frictional contact to hold them against movement relative to each other to hold said headrest and back support brackets in selected angular positions relative to the housing, and a release mechanism manually operable to release said clamping action of said clamping mechanism to release said first and second plate members to permit longitudinal movement of said sets of first and second plate members relative to each other and pivotal movement of said headrest and back support brackets relative to said housing. 21. The mechanism of claim 20, which further comprises means for maintaining selected alignment of said first and second plate members during movement thereof in said enclosure.22. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein said first plate members have elongate longitudinally extending first slots formed therein spaced from said third pivot, said second plate members have elongate longitudinally extending second slots formed therein spaced from said fourth pivot, and portions of said first and second slots are aligned laterally of the plate members.23. The mechanism of claim 22, wherein said clamping mechanism comprises an elongate locking member extending widthwise of said housing slidably through said aligned portions of said first and second slots.24. The mechanism of claim 23, wherein said locking member has a bearing portion thereon positioned to engage a plate member at one side of a set of plates and yieldable biasing means operable to urge the bearing portion in one direction to press the engaged plate member into engagement with other interleaved plate members.25. The mechanism of claim 24, wherein said release mechanism comprises an elongate lever pivotally connected to said body at a lever pivot in a region adjacent said locking member and having an operating portion positioned to engage said locking member to move said bearing portion in a direction away from said plate members when the lever is manually swung in one direction about said lever pivot.26. The mechanism of claim 25, wherein said lever has a user-engaging portion spaced from said lever pivot a first distance which is a multiple of the distance between said lever pivot and said operating portion.27. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein said first and second plate members and said first and second lever arms are housed in said enclosure.28. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein said top and bottom walls are substantially planar over a majority of their lengths and are disposed parallel to each other.29. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein a bracket comprises a pair of parallel laterally spaced bracket arms and said housing has opposed end walls having spaced openings therein through which said bracket arms extend.30. The mechanism of claim 20, wherein said housing is elongate and the width of said housing is greater than the height of said housing.31. The mechanism of claim 30, wherein said first plate members are elongate, said second plate members are elongate, and said first and second plate members extend longitudinally of said elongate housing.32. A mechanism for supporting and permitting selected adjustment of a headrest relative to a chair back, the mechanism comprisingan elongate support body, a headrest support bracket pivotally connected adjacent one end of said body, a back support bracket pivotally connected adjacent a second end of said body opposite said one end, a releasable locking mechanism operable in a locked position to hold said headrest support bracket, and back support brackets in selected adjusted positions relative to said body and upon release permitting pivotal adjustment of said headrest support bracket and back support brackets relative to said body, and a headrest positioning mechanism connected to said headrest support bracket in assembled operative condition permitting selected translation movement of said headrest relative to said headrest support bracket and toward and away from said chair back, said positioning mechanism comprising a connector member adapted to be secured to the rear side of a headrest, and said connector member and headrest support bracket having interengaging elements thereon permitting translational movement of said connector member relative to said headrest support bracket, said interengaging elements comprising at least one guide portion on one of said headrest support bracket and connector member, and the other of said headrest support bracket and connector member has at least one elongate guideway thereon, which receives and supports said guide portion for translational movement along a path defined by said guideway. 33. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein one of said headrest support bracket and said connector member has a pair of opposed spaced apart guide portions thereon, and the other of said headrest support bracket and connector member has a pair of elongate guideways thereon which receive and support said guide portions to permit translational movement of said connector member relative to said headrest bracket along a path defined by said guideways.34. The mechanism of claim 33, wherein said guideways comprise a pair of elongate guide channels and said guide portions are configured to be slidably received in said channels.35. The mechanism of claim 34, wherein said headrest support bracket comprises a guide plate having spaced apart opposed edge margin portions defining said guide portions and the connector member comprises a pair of guide rails defining guideway channels receiving said edge margin portions.36. The mechanism of claim 32, which further comprises a layer of material of reduced frictional characteristic interposed between the interengaging elements of said headrest support bracket and said connector member to provide a selected sliding interconnection therebetween.37. The mechanism of claim 36, wherein said material comprises DELRIN.38. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein a friction element is coupled to one of said headrest support bracket and connector member and biasing means yieldably urges said friction element into contact with the other of said headrest support bracket and connector member to provide a selected frictional interconnection therebetween to retain said headrest support bracket and connector member in selected position when no operator force is being applied thereto.39. A mechanism for supporting and permitting selected adjustment of a headrest relative to a chair back, the mechanism comprisinga headrest support bracket adapted to be attached to the back of a chair, a connector member adapted to be attached to the rear side of a headrest cushion, and vertical positioning mechanism in assembled operative condition permitting selected translational movement of the connector member relative to said headrest support bracket comprising one of said headrest support bracket and said connector member having a guide plate with a pair of opposed spaced apart guide portions thereon and the other having a pair of guide rails defining elongate guide channels thereon which slidably receive and support said guide portions to permit translational movement of said connector member relative to said headrest support bracket along a path defined by said guide channels and a layer of material of reduced frictional characteristic is provided between said guide portions and guideways to provide a selected sliding interconnection therebetween. 40. The mechanism of claim 39, wherein a friction element is coupled to one of said headrest support bracket and connector member and biasing means yieldably urges said friction element into contact with the other of said headrest support bracket and connector member to provide a selected frictional interconnection therebetween to retain said headrest support bracket and connector member in selected position when no operator force is being applied thereto.