Reclining chair

Abstract

A reclining chair ( 10 ), having a frame ( 16 ) including first and second angled members ( 32 ) and first and second upright members ( 34 ). A support surface ( 18 ) has a back portion ( 15 ) which is held in position by the first and second upright members ( 34 ). Each of the first and second upright members ( 34 ) is attached to one of first and second angled members ( 32 ) by reversible joints ( 39 ), so that the reclining chair ( 10 ) is movable from an upright position ( 12 ) when the reversible joints ( 39 ) are in a first position, to a reclining position ( 14 ) when the reversible joints ( 39 ) have been reversed to a second position. Also a collapsible reclining chair ( 100 ).

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.  
     
         1 . A portable reclining chair, comprising: 
 a frame including angled members and upright members, each of said upright members having a lower end;    a support surface, having a back portion, said back portion being held in position by said upright members; and    each of said upright members being attached to one of said angled members by a reversible joint, so that said reclining chair is movable from an upright position when said reversible joints are in a first position, to a reclining position when said reversible joints have been reversed to a second position.    
     
     
         2 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said reversible joints comprise: 
 an extension member having first and second ends;    a sleeve housing having a sleeve pivot, said sleeve housing being attached to one of said angled members;    a pivot housing having first and second pivots; and    said lower end of one of said upright members being pivotally attached to said first pivot of said pivot housing, said first end of said extension member being pivotally attached to said second pivot of said pivot housing, said second end of said extension member being pivotally attached to said sleeve pivot of said sleeve housing.    
     
     
         3 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein each of said reversible joints comprise: 
 a pivot housing having first and second pivots; and    said lower end of one of said upright members being pivotally attached to said first pivot of said pivot housing, said second pivot of said pivot housing being pivotally attached to one of said angled members.    
     
     
         4 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 1 , further comprising a footrest.  
     
     
         5 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 1 , further comprising armrests.  
     
     
         6 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said armrests are pivotally attached to said upright members and which pivot when said chair is moved from said upright position to said reclining position so that they remain roughly horizontal.    
     
     
         7 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 upper angled members which are pivotally attached to said upright members, and which pivot when said chair is moved from said upright position to said reclining position.    
     
     
         8 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein said chair is collapsible.  
     
     
         9 . A portable reclining chair, comprising: 
 a frame including angled members and upright members, each of said upright members having a lower end;    a support surface, having a back portion, said back portion being held in position by said first and second upright members; and    reversible joints, wherein each reversible joint includes an extension member having first and second ends, a sleeve housing having a sleeve pivot, said sleeve housing being attached to one of said angled members, a pivot housing having first and second pivots, said lower end of one of said first and second upright member being pivotally attached to said first pivot of said pivot housing, said first end of said extension member being pivotally attached to said second pivot of said pivot housing, said second end of said extension member being pivotally attached to said sleeve pivot of said sleeve housing;    each of said upright members being attached to one of said angled members by a reversible joint, so that said reclining chair is movable from an upright position when said reversible joints are in a first position, to a reclining position when said reversible joints have been reversed to a second position.    
     
     
         10 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 9 , further comprising a footrest.  
     
     
         11 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 9 , further comprising armrests.  
     
     
         12 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 9 , wherein said chair is collapsible.  
     
     
         13 . A portable reclining chair, comprising: 
 a frame including angled members and upright members, each of said upright members having a lower end;    a support surface, having a back portion, said back portion being held in position by said first and second upright members; and    reversible joints, wherein each reversible joint includes a pivot housing having first and second pivots and said lower end of one of said upright members is pivotally attached to said first pivot of said pivot housing, said second pivot of said pivot housing being pivotally attached to one of said angled members;    each of said upright members being attached to one of said angled members by a reversible joint, so that said reclining chair is movable from an upright position when said reversible joints are in a first position, to a reclining position when said reversible joints have been reversed to a second position.    
     
     
         14 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 13 , further comprising a footrest.  
     
     
         15 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 13 , further comprising armrests.  
     
     
         16 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 13 , wherein said chair is collapsible.  
     
     
         17 . A portable reclining chair, comprising: 
 a frame including angled members and upright members, each of said upright members having a lower end;    a support surface, having a back portion, said back portion being held in position by said upright members; and    each of said upright members being attached to one of said angled members by a reversible joint, so that said reclining chair is movable from an upright position when said reversible joints are in a first position, to a reclining position when said reversible joints have been reversed to a second position;    each of said reversible joints being moveable from a first position to a second position, and in moving from said first position to said second position, said pivot housings move from a first vertical minimum at said first position through a vertical maximum to a second relative vertical minimum at said second position, such that once rotation of said reversible joints has moved said upper portion center of gravity so that it is on either side of said vertical maximum, the weight of the chair maintains the chair in one of the relative vertical minimums at first and second positions.    
     
     
         18 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 17 , wherein each of said reversible joints comprise: 
 an extension member having first and second ends;    a sleeve housing having a sleeve pivot, said sleeve housing being attached to one of said angled members;    a pivot housing having first and second pivots; and    said lower end of one of said upright members being pivotally attached to said first pivot of said pivot housing, said first end of said extension member being pivotally attached to said second pivot of said pivot housing, said second end of said extension member being pivotally attached to said sleeve pivot of said sleeve housing.    
     
     
         19 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 17 , wherein each of said reversible joints comprise: 
 a pivot housing having first and second pivots; and    said lower end of one of said upright members being pivotally attached to said first pivot of said pivot housing, said second pivot of said pivot housing being pivotally attached to one of said angled members.    
     
     
         20 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 17 , further comprising a footrest.  
     
     
         21 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 17 , further comprising armrests.  
     
     
         22 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 21 , wherein: 
 said armrests are pivotally attached to said upright members and which pivot when said chair is moved from said upright position to said reclining position so that they remain roughly horizontal.    
     
     
         23 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 17 , further comprising: upper angled members which are pivotally attached to said upright members, and which pivot when said chair is moved from said upright position to said reclining position.  
     
     
         24 . The portable reclining chair as in  claim 17 , wherein said chair is collapsible.  
     
     
         25 . A collapsible reclining chair comprising: 
 a frame including angled members and upright members, each of said upright members having a lower end;    a support surface, having a back portion, said back portion being held in position by said upright members; and    each of said upright members being attached to one of said angled members by a reversible joint, so that said reclining chair is movable from an upright position when said reversible joints are in a first position, to a reclining position when said reversible joints have been reversed to a second position;    each of said reversible joints being moveable from a first position to a second position, and in moving from said first position to said second position, said pivot housings move from a first vertical minimum at said first position through a vertical maximum and on to a second relative vertical minimum at said second position, such that once rotation of said reversible joints has moved said upper portion center of gravity so that it is on either side of said vertical maximum, the weight of the chair maintains the chair in one of the relative vertical minimums at first and second positions;    upper angled members which are pivotally attached to said upright members, and which pivot when said chair is moved from said upright position to said reclining position; and    armrests, said armrests being pivotally attached to said upright members and which pivot when said chair is moved from said upright position to said reclining position.    
     
     
         26 . The collapsible reclining chair as in  claim 25 , wherein each of said reversible joints comprise: 
 an extension member having first and second ends;    a sleeve housing having a sleeve pivot, said sleeve housing being attached to one of said angled members;    a pivot housing having first and second pivots; and    said lower end of one of said upright members being pivotally attached to said first pivot of said pivot housing, said first end of said extension member being pivotally attached to said second pivot of said pivot housing, said second end of said extension member being pivotally attached to said sleeve pivot of said sleeve housing.    
     
     
         27 . The collapsible reclining chair as in  claim 25 , wherein each of said reversible joints comprise: 
 a pivot housing having first and second pivots; and    said lower end of one of said upright members being pivotally attached to said first pivot of said pivot housing, said second pivot of said pivot housing being pivotally attached to one of said angled members.