Adjustable chair

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustable chair (10) comprising: a seat base (12) defining a seating surface portion (14) for receiving a user thereon in use, the seat base (12) comprising an integral seat back engagement portion (20) for engaging with a portion of a seat back (16), a seat front portion (40) opposing the seat back engagement portion (20), a first seat side portion and a second seat side portion opposing the first seat side portion, each of the first and second seat side portions located between the seat back engagement portion (20) and the seat front portion (40) and extending substantially transverse to the seat surface portion (14); and a seat back (16) having a seat base engagement portion (18) dimensioned to slidably engage with the seat back engagement portion (20) to form a seat back adjustment mechanism, wherein the seat back adjustment mechanism is located adjacent at least one of the first and second seat side portions and wherein the seat back adjustment mechanism is movable between a first locked configuration in which the seat back (16) and seat base (12) are fixed relative to one another and the seating surface portion (14) has a fixed surface area, and a second released configuration in which the seat back (16) is slidable relative to the seat base (12) to vary the surface area of the seating surface portion (14). Also provided is such a chair with an adjustable footrest (22) to vary the distance between the seat base (12) and the footplate (54) and/or to vary the angle between the seat base (12) and the footrest (22).

1 . An adjustable chair comprising:
 a. a seat base defining a seating surface portion for receiving a user thereon in use, the seat base comprising an integral seat back engagement portion for engaging with a portion of a seat back, a seat front portion opposing the seat back engagement portion, a first seat side portion and a second seat side portion opposing the first seat side portion, each of the first and second seat side portions located between the seat back engagement portion and the seat front portion and extending substantially transverse to the seat surface portion; and   b. a seat back having a seat base engagement portion dimensioned to slidably engage with the seat back engagement portion to form a seat back adjustment mechanism, wherein the seat back adjustment mechanism is located adjacent at least one of the first and second seat side portions and wherein the seat back adjustment mechanism is movable between a first locked configuration in which the seat back and seat base are fixed relative to one another and the seating surface portion has a fixed surface area, and a second released configuration in which the seat back is slidable relative to the seat base to vary the surface area of the seating surface portion.   
     
     
         2 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seat back adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a. a first engagement portion for engagement with a latch; and   b. a latch pivotable about a pivot point, the latch comprising a second engagement portion for engagement with the first engagement portion,   wherein the latch is pivotable between the first locked configuration in which the first and second engagement portions are in rigid engagement with one another and the seat back and seat base are fixed relative to one another, and the second released configuration in which the first and second engagement portions are in slidable engagement with one another and the seat back is slidable relative to the seat base.   
     
     
         3 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first engagement portion comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess being dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the second engagement portion therein. 
     
     
         4 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the latch is biased towards the first engagement portion. 
     
     
         5 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the latch is biased towards the first engagement portion under force from a coil spring engaged with the latch and arranged between the latch pivot point and the second engagement portion. 
     
     
         6 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the latch is pivotable between the first locked configuration and the second released configuration on application of force to a portion of the latch located distal to the second engagement portion. 
     
     
         7 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the seat base engagement portion comprises the first engagement portion and the seat back engagement portion comprises the latch. 
     
     
         8 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a footrest extending away from the seat base, the footrest comprising:
 a. a first footrest portion extending away from the seat base, the first footrest portion comprising a footrest engagement portion for engagement with a second footrest portion; and   b. a second footrest portion comprising a footplate for receiving the feet of a user in use, the second footrest portion having a first footrest engagement portion dimensioned to slidably engage with the footrest engagement portion to form a footrest adjustment mechanism, and the footplate being arranged distal to the first footrest engagement portion,   wherein the footrest adjustment mechanism is moveable between a footrest locked configuration in which the first and second footrest portions are in fixed engagement with one another and the footplate is at a fixed distance from the seat base, and a footrest released configuration in which the first and second footrest portions are slidable relative to one another to adjust the distance between the footplate and the seat base.   
     
     
         9 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the footrest adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a. a first engagement portion for engagement with a latch; and   b. a latch pivotable above a fixed pivot point, the latch comprising a second engagement portion for engagement with the first engagement portion, wherein the latch is pivotable between the footrest locked configuration and the footrest released configuration.   
     
     
         10 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the footrest adjustment mechanism first engagement portion comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess being dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the footrest adjustment mechanism second engagement portion. 
     
     
         11 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the footrest adjustment mechanism latch is biased towards the plurality of recesses of the footrest adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the footrest adjustment mechanism latch is biased towards the plurality of recesses of the footrest adjustment mechanism under force from a second coil spring engaged with said latch and arranged between the pivot point of said latch and the footrest adjustment mechanism latch recess engagement portion. 
     
     
         13 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the footrest adjustment mechanism latch is pivotable between the footrest locked configuration and the footrest released configuration on application of force to a portion of the said latch located distal to the latch recess engagement portion. 
     
     
         14 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the first footrest portion comprises the first engagement portion and the second footrest portion comprises the footrest adjustment mechanism latch. 
     
     
         15 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first footrest portion is pivotally engaged with the seat base. 
     
     
         16 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the footrest is pivotable from the vertical position to a position beneath the seat base. 
     
     
         17 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the footrest is pivotable from the vertical position in a direction away from the seat base. 
     
     
         18 . An adjustable chair as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the seat base defines a first plane and the footrest pivots in a second plane, wherein the first and second planes are transverse to one another.