Swivel rocker chair and assembly

Abstract

A swivel rocker chair connection assembly facilitates construction of a swivel rocker chair and allows for the secure and stable operation of the chair. The chair includes a base portion, a seat portion and a connection assembly having at least one dual washer plate adapted to engage one or more rocker spring members positioned and engaged with the chair base and seat portions.

1 . A swivel rocker chair, comprising: 
 a base assembly having a T-bar member;    a seat assembly having a lower stabilizing element, said lower stabilizing element having an upper surface;    at least one rocker spring member having a first end and a second end, said first end cooperatively engaging said T-bar member and said second end cooperatively engaging said seat assembly lower stabilizing element; and    a connector assembly connecting said base assembly to said seat assembly, said connector assembly comprising: 
 a washer plate member having first and second inner surfaces, said first surface capable of cooperatively engaging said upper surface of said lower stabilizing element of said seat assembly, and said second surface capable of cooperatively engaging a lower surface of said second end of said at least one rocker spring member; and  
 connecting means for securing together said at least one rocker spring member,  
   said at least one washer plate member, and said lower stabilizing element.    
   
   
       2 . The chair of  claim 1  including a pair of rocker spring members, each mounted to said T-bar member at said first end, and each secured to said seat assembly lower stabilizing element at said second end by a pair of said connector assemblies.  
   
   
       3 . The chair of  claim 1  wherein said washer plate member includes substantially parallel side walls and a bridge portion connecting said side walls.  
   
   
       4 . A method of installing a swivel rocker chair, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a base assembly with connected T-bar member, said T-bar member having a top face;    providing a seat assembly having a lower stabilizing member with an upper surface;    providing at least one rocker spring member having a first end and a second end, said first end cooperatively engaging said T-bar member and said second end cooperatively engaging said seat assembly lower stabilizing element;    providing a dual washer plate member having a pair of walls each having an interior surface, such that a first of said wall interior surfaces cooperatively engages said seat assembly lower stabilizing member upper surface, and such that a second of said wall interior surfaces cooperatively engages a lower surface of said at least one rocker spring member;    passing a bolt member sequentially through said washer plate, lower stabilizing member, rocker spring member, and again through said washer plate; and    securing said bolt member in the passed-through position.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of providing at least one rocker spring member includes providing a pair of rocker spring members, each mounted to said T-bar member at said first end, and each secured to said seat assembly lower stabilizing element at said second end.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said T-bar member is rotatable about a base assembly axis.  
   
   
       7 . A swivel rocker connector assembly for connecting a chair base element to a seat element, said chair base element having at least one rocker spring member, comprising: 
 a washer plate member having first and second inner surfaces, said first surface capable of engaging an upper surface of a substantially flat portion of said seat element, and said second surface capable of engaging a lower surface of an end of said at least one rocker spring member;    at least one bolt member being at least partially threaded at a longitudinal exterior portion thereof, said bolt being extendable through said washer plate member, seat element, and rocker spring member; and    a nut member for securely engaging said at least one bolt member, thereby securing said base element to said seat element.    
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein said washer plate member includes substantially parallel side walls and a bridge portion connecting said side walls.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein said substantially parallel side walls each have an outer edge, and wherein said bridge portion has leg members which extend from said wall outer edges.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein said bridge portion further includes a joint portion extending substantially perpendicular from and connecting said leg members.  
   
   
       11 . A swivel rocker assembly for connecting a chair base to a chair seat portion, comprising: 
 a T-bar member rotatably secured to said chair base for rotation about a chair base axis, said T-bar member having a stem portion lying in a first substantially horizontal plane when secured to said chair base, said T-bar member further having a top portion lying in a second substantially horizontal plane when said T-bar member is secured to said chair base, said top portion being secured to said stem portion, said T-bar member top portion and stem portion being substantially perpendicular to one another, said T-bar member top portion having an upper face;    at least one rocker spring member having a top face, a bottom face, a first end and a second end, said first end being positioned above said T-bar member top portion such that said bottom face of said at least one rocker spring member cooperatively engages said T-bar member top portion upper face, said second end being positioned such that said top face rests underneath said chair seat portion;    at least one washer plate member having a pair of side walls extending in substantially parallel relation, each of said side walls having an outer edge, an inner and an outer surface and at least two openings therein, said washer plate member further including a bridge portion integrally formed with and connecting said side walls, said bridge portion having leg members which extend laterally from said wall outer edges and a joint portion extending substantially perpendicular from and connecting said leg members; and    connecting means for securing said at least one rocker spring member to said at least one washer plate member such that said inner surface of a first of said washer plate member walls rests above said seat chair portion in mating relationship therewith, and further such that said inner surface of a second of said washer plate member walls rests underneath and in mating relationship with said rocker spring member bottom face near said second end of said rocker spring member.    
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein said connecting means includes a pair of bolts extending through said openings of said washer plate member walls.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein each of said pair of bolts includes a shaft which is partially threaded.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein said seat portion lies in a plane which is between said bridge portion of said washer plate member and said T-bar member top portion.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 11  including a pair of substantially flat rocker spring members.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 11  including a pair of substantially flat rocker spring members secured to said T-bar member so as to lie on opposite sides of said chair base axis and in substantially the same horizontal plane.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 11  further including means for securing said first end of said at least one rocker spring member to said T-bar member top portion.