Articulating outdoor furniture

Abstract

Adjustable outdoor furniture includes a fixed frame, a moveable frame attached to and moveable with respect to the fixed frame and an articulation unit separate from the fixed frame and moveable frame and releasably attachable to at least one of the fixed frame and the moveable frame. The articulation unit has a first engagement member engaging the fixed frame at one or more fixed frame locations, a second engagement member engaging the moveable frame at one or more moveable frame locations and a drive mechanism disposed between the first engagement member and the second engagement member to move the moveable frame with respect to the fixed frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable outdoor furnishing comprising:
 a fixed frame;   a moveable frame attached to and moveable with respect to the fixed frame; and   an articulation unit separate from the fixed frame and moveable frame and releasably attachable to at least one of the fixed frame and the moveable frame, the articulation unit comprising:
 a first engagement member engaging the fixed frame at one or more fixed frame locations; 
 a second engagement member engaging the moveable frame at one or more moveable frame locations; and 
 a drive mechanism disposed between the first engagement member and the second engagement member to move the moveable frame with respect to the fixed frame. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustable outdoor furnishing comprises a chair;   the fixed frame comprises a seat portion of the chair; and   the moveable frame comprises an upper body portion of the chair.   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustable outdoor furnishing comprises a lounge chair;   the fixed frame comprises a lower body support portion of the lounge chair; and   the moveable frame comprises an upper body portion of the lounge chair.   
     
     
         4 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustable outdoor furnishing comprises a lounge chair;   the fixed frame comprises a seat portion of the lounge chair; and   the moveable frame comprises an upper body portion or a leg portion of the lounge chair.   
     
     
         5 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 4 , wherein the adjustable outdoor furnishing further comprises:
 an upper body portion moveable frame;   a leg portion moveable frame;   a first articulation unit disposed between the upper body moveable frame and the fixed frame; and   a second articulation unit disposed between the leg portion moveable frame and the fixed frame.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fixed frame locations comprise set locations on the fixed frame and the moveable frame locations comprise set locations on the moveable frame. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member comprise releasable members. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible member is pivotally attached to the first engagement member and the second engagement member. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement member comprises at least one roller in contact with the moveable frame. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises an extensible member comprising a hydraulic piston, a pneumatic piston, a gas spring, a gas lift cylinder or a locking gas lift cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a linear actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises an extensible member and the articulation unit further comprises a cam disposed between the extensible member and at least one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member, the cam translating linear motion of the extensible member to pivoting motion between the fixed frame and the moveable frame. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 12 , wherein the cam comprises:
 a pivot joint comprising:
 a fixed portion attached to the first engagement member or the fixed frame; and 
 a rotating portion attached to the fixed portion; and 
   a pivot arm in contact with the rotating portion, the second engagement member and the extensible member.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first engagement member comprises an attachment frame comprising a plurality of fasteners to secure the attachment frame to the fixed frame at the fixed frame locations such that the attachment frame does not move with respect to the fixed frame; and   the second engagement member comprises:
 an articulating frame rotatably attached to the attachment frame; and 
 a plurality of rollers attached to the articulating frame and engaging the moveable frame at one of the moveable frame locations, each moveable frame location changing as the articulating frame moves with respect to the attachment frame. 
   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first engagement member further comprises a plurality of brackets extending from the attachment frame, each bracket comprising a circular bore;   the articulating frame comprises a cylindrical tube passing through the circular bore of each bracket to provide rotatable attachment of the articulating frame to the attachment frame;   the drive mechanism comprises an extensible member; and   the articulation unit comprises at least one arm attached to the cylindrical tube and at least one additional location on the articulating frame, wherein the brackets, cylindrical tube and arm comprise a cam that translates linear motion of the extensible member to pivoting motion between the fixed frame and the moveable frame.   
     
     
         16 . An adjustable outdoor furnishing comprising:
 a fixed frame;   a moveable frame attached to and moveable with respect to the fixed frame; and   an articulation unit separate from the fixed frame and moveable frame, the articulation unit comprising:
 a first engagement member engaging the fixed frame at one or more fixed frame locations, each fixed frame location comprising a set location on the fixed frame; 
 a second engagement member engaging the moveable frame at one or more moveable frame locations, each moveable frame location changing as the moveable frame moves with respect to the fixed frame; and 
 an extensible member disposed between the first engagement member and the second engagement member to move the moveable frame with respect to the fixed frame. 
   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 16 , wherein the first engagement member comprises a plurality of fasteners to secure the articulation unit to the fixed frame at the fixed frame locations and each fastener comprises a releasable fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 16 , wherein the second engagement member comprises a roller in contact with the moveable frame at each moveable frame location. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable outdoor furnishing of  claim 16 , wherein the articulation unit further comprises a cam comprising:
 a pivot joint comprising:
 a fixed portion attached to the first engagement member or the fixed frame; and 
 a rotating portion attached to the fixed portion; and 
   a pivot arm in contact with the rotating portion, the second engagement member and the extensible member.   wherein the cam translates linear motion of the extensible member to pivoting motion between the fixed frame and the moveable frame.   
     
     
         20 . An articulation unit for attachment to an outdoor furnishing, the articulation unit comprising:
 a first engagement member comprising at least one fastener to engage framing members at a fixed frame location, the fastener comprising a releasable fastener;   a second engagement member comprising at least one roller to engage framing members at a moveable frame location; and   a drive mechanism disposed between the first engagement member and the second engagement member to move the second engagement member with respect to the first engagement member.