Lounge Chair

Abstract

A lounge chair may include a seat including an arcuate rail supported by a pair of roller axles rotatably coupled to a base frame. The roller axles may include a pair of rollers adapted to receive the arcuate rail, thereby allowing movement of the seat relative to the base frame such that the seat may be altered from an upright position to a reclining position. A top roller axle may be provided which may be movably coupled to the base frame and include a pair of rollers also adapted to receive the arcuate rail. Altering the relative position of the top roller axle to the base frame may alter the force applied to the arcuate rail by the rollers and therefore the frictional force between the arcuate rail and the base frame, thereby changing the resistance to movement of the seat relative to the base frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reclining chair, comprising:
 a base frame adapted to be supported on a rigid surface;   a seat adapted to support a user in a position where the hips and upper legs of the user are supported on a base portion of the seat, the seat further including an arcuate rail positioned below the base portion;   a pair of roller axles each including rollers rotatably coupled to the base frame about a long axis of the roller axles, the rollers adapted to receive and support the arcuate rail of the seat; and   a top roller axle including a roller rotatably coupled to the base frame about a long axis of the top roller axle, the long axis of the top roller axle being substantially parallel to the long axis of the pair of roller axels, the roller of the top roller axle adapted to receive the arcuate rail of the seat on a side opposite to the pair of roller axels, the top roller axle including a mount enabling adjustable positioning of the top roller axle relative to the base frame, whereby articulation of the mount alters a compressive force between the roller of the top roller axel and the arcuate rail.   
     
     
         2 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of roller axels is positioned below the arcuate rail and supporting the seat by way of the rollers of the pair of roller axels. 
     
     
         3 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the top roller axle is positioned between the pair of roller axels. 
     
     
         4 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the top roller axel is positioned above the arcuate rail. 
     
     
         5 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the base frame is comprised of a left side frame and a right side frame. 
     
     
         6 . The reclining chair according to  claim 5 ,.wherein the left side frame includes a pair bearing supports adapted to receive a first end of each of the pair of roller axles, thereby enabling rotational support of the pair of roller axles. 
     
     
         7 . The reclining chair according to  claim 6 , wherein the right side frame includes a pair bearing supports adapted to receive a second end of each of the pair of roller axles, thereby enabling rotational support of the pair of roller axles. 
     
     
         8 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat further comprises a stop positioned on a distal end of the arcuate rail, the stop adapted to engage a roller of the pair of roller axles, thereby limiting the movement of the seat relative to the base frame. 
     
     
         9 . The reclining chair according to  claim 8 , wherein the stop is a member releasably attached to the arcuate rail. 
     
     
         10 . The reclining chair according to  claim 8 , wherein the stop is a structural element of the seat frame. 
     
     
         11 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the mount of the top roller axle is comprised of a pair of threaded screws received by a pair of holes in the top roller axle, the holes including a central axis positioned perpendicular to the long axis of the top roller axle. 
     
     
         12 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 -, wherein the mount is comprised of a compression pin received by a hole in the top roller axle and a frame guide coupled to the base frame, the compression pin being actuated by a handle coupled to the base frame. 
     
     
         13 . The reclining chair according to  claim 12 , wherein the handle is coupled to the base frame by way of a link bar which is pivotally coupled to the base frame and the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid brake with a first end coupled to the seat and a second end coupled to the base frame, the fluid brake including a valve adapted to alter the force required to alter the overall length of the fluid brake. 
     
     
         15 . The reclining chair according to  claim 14 , wherein the fluid brake includes an actuation knob adapted to remotely actuate the valve of the fluid brake. 
     
     
         16 . The reclining chair according to  claim 1 , wherein the base frame includes a mounting bracket adapted to receive a threaded screw of the mount. 
     
     
         17 . The reclining chair according to  claim 16 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a threaded portion adapted to engage the threaded screw, thereby advancing the threaded screw will bias the top roller axle in a direction toward the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The reclining chair according to  claim 16 , wherein the mounting bracket is positioned between the base frame and the seat, thereby the threaded screw is accessible while the user is on the seat and may be adjusted by the user while seated in the seat. 
     
     
         19 . A reclining chair of the type that allows a user to recline or sit upright with minimal displacement of the center of gravity of the user, the chair including:
 a seat frame including an arcuate rail;   a base frame including a pair of roller axles, each axle including a pair of rollers, the rollers being rotatably coupled to the base frame about a longitudinal axis of that roller axle and adapted to support the arcuate rail; and   a top roller axle including a longitudinal axis, the top roller axle being adjustably coupled to the base frame with the longitudinal axis of the top roller axle substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller axles, the rollers of the top roller axle adapted to allow for displacement of the top roller axle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the top roller axle, the top roller axle including a pair of rollers adapted to receive the arcuate rail on an opposite side relative to the roller axles, whereby the top roller axle is adjustably coupled to the base frame so as to apply varying force to the arcuate rail which is supported by the pair of roller axles.   
     
     
         20 . The reclining chair according to  claim 19 , wherein the top roller axle is adjustably coupled to the base frame by way of a mount selected from the group consisting of a threaded screw and a compression pin, the mount coupled to the base frame and adapted to apply a controlled force to the top roller axle.