Support and gliding mechanism for chair or sofa

Abstract

A support and gliding mechanism for a chair or sofa includes a base; an elongated, generally U-shaped support arm on the base; a three-sided end housing pivotally mounted on each free end of the support arm, the housing having inverted triangular sides and a rectangular end extending between outer edges of the sides; and a generally rectangular chair support frame defined by side walls, the bottom corners of which are pivotally connected to the bottom corners of the housing sides, the result being a closed structure covering most of the base even during gliding.

1 . A support and gliding mechanism for a chair or sofa comprising: 
 (a) a base for supporting the mechanism on a horizontal surface;    (b) an elongated support arm on said base having a pair of upwardly extending free ends;    (c) a pair of end housings, each said housing including: 
 (i) side panels pivotally connected to the free ends of said support arm for rotation around horizontal axes extending between top, outer corners of the side panels, and  
 (ii) an end panel extending between outer side edges of the side panels, said end panels defining end walls of the mechanism; and  
   (d) a chair support frame including: 
 (i) a pair of side walls having bottom corners pivotally connected to bottom corners of said side panels, whereby said side walls can rotate around horizontal axes extending transversely of the mechanism between the bottom corners of the side panels, and  
 (ii) a first crossbar extending between top edges of the side walls for supporting a chair or sofa.  
   
   
   
       2 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said side panels are inverted triangles having outer top corners pivotally connected to said free ends of the support arm, and bottom corners pivotally supporting bottom corners of said side walls.  
   
   
       3 . The mechanism of  claim 1  including a horizontal sleeve on each free end of said support arm, and first bearings in each said sleeve for pivotally supporting said side panels.  
   
   
       4 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said base includes a baseplate, and a post extending upwardly from said baseplate for supporting said support arm.  
   
   
       5 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said side panels are integral with said end panels.  
   
   
       6 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein said chair support frame includes outwardly extending flanges on the top edges of said side walls for reinforcing the frame and for supporting a chair or sofa.  
   
   
       7 . The mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein each said end housing includes a second crossbar extending between said side panels proximate inner side edges and the bottom corners thereof for reinforcing said end housing and for engaging said support arm during gliding to limit movement of said chair support frame relative to said base.