Chair with removable leg support

Abstract

A chair includes a body portion and a leg support portion coupled to the body portion by a removable and adjustable joint that includes first and second halves respectively attached to the leg support portion and the body portion in a removable manner. The first half is rotatable with respect to the second half between first and second positions whereby the leg support portion is movable with respect to the body portion between a regular position and a special support position. Thus, the leg support portion may assume stable physical engagement with an irregular fixture surface and can also be raised for supporting legs of a sitter on a raised position. Further, in case the chair body is adjustable, which changes the relative position between the leg support portion and the chair body portion, the adjustability of the joint allows the leg support portion to regain stable engagement with the fixture surface.

1 . A chair comprising:
 a body portion; and   a leg support portion coupled to the body portion by an adjustable joint that comprises first and second halves respectively attached to the leg support portion and the body portion, the first half being movable with respect to the second half between first and second positions whereby the leg support portion is movable with respect to the body portion between a regular position and a special support position.   
   
   
       2 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second halves comprise inner end portions pivotally coupled to each other to allow for relative rotation therebetween and thus movement between the first and second positions. 
   
   
       3 . The chair as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the inner end portions of the first and second halves form a knuckle joint wherein the inner end portion of the first half comprises a projection and the inner end portion of the second half comprises two spaced walls defining a slit in which the projection of the first half is rotatably received, a pivot extending through aligned holes defined in the walls and the projection to fix the first and second halves together, while allowing the relative rotation therebetween. 
   
   
       4 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the leg support portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the first half is fit, the tubular portion of the leg support portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the first half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the first half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes. 
   
   
       5 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the second half is fit, the tubular portion of the body portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the second half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the second half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes. 
   
   
       6 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body portion comprises a seat portion and a seatback that is rotatable with respect to the seat portion to change an inclined angle therebetween from a first angle to a second angle. 
   
   
       7 . The chair as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first and second halves comprise inner end portions pivotally coupled to each other to allow for relative rotation therebetween and thus movement between the first and second positions. 
   
   
       8 . The chair as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the inner end portions of the first and second halves form a knuckle joint wherein the inner end portion of the first half comprises a projection and the inner end portion of the second half comprises two spaced walls defining a slit in which the projection of the first half is rotatably received, a pivot extending through aligned holes defined in the walls and the projection to fix the first and second halves together, while allowing the relative rotation therebetween. 
   
   
       9 . The chair as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the leg support portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the first half is fit, the tubular portion of the leg support portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the first half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the first half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes. 
   
   
       10 . The chair as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the body portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the second half is fit, the tubular portion of the body portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the second half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the second half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes. 
   
   
       11 . The chair as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the seat portion comprises a coupling portion for connection with the joint, the coupling portion being oriented in a direction that changes with the inclined angle the seat portion and the seatback. 
   
   
       12 . The chair as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the second half is fit, the tubular portion of the coupling portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the second half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the second half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes. 
   
   
       13 . The chair as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the leg support portion comprises a tubular portion into which an outer end of the first half is fit, the tubular portion of the leg support portion being defined by a wall in which a first hole is formed, the outer end of the first half being tubular and having a wall forming a second hole corresponding to the first hole, a leaf spring being received in the outer end of the first half and having a projection biased by spring force into engagement with both first and second holes. 
   
   
       14 . The chair as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second halves comprise inner end portions pivotally coupled to each other to allow for relative rotation therebetween and thus movement between the first and second positions. 
   
   
       15 . The chair as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the inner end portions of the first and second halves form a knuckle joint wherein the inner end portion of the first half comprises a projection and the inner end portion of the second half comprises two spaced walls defining a slit in which the projection of the first half is rotatably received, a pivot extending through aligned holes defined in the walls and the projection to fix the first and second halves together, while allowing the relative rotation therebetween. 
   
   
       16 . The chair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the special support position comprises a raised position of the leg support portion with respect to the body portion.