La-z-boy Chair Co.

Judy E Fay

Larry P LaPointe

Jonathan R Saul

Karl J Komorowski, Jr

Chad S Stateler

A rocking chair having a chair frame operable for providing rocking motion relative to a stationary base is provided. The rocking chair generally comprises a chair frame and a stationary base coupled together by a rocker spring assembly. The rocker spring assembly includes an upper and lower bracket having a pair of springs and means for suppressing the noise generated by the springs. The rocker spring assembly further includes means for limiting the rocking movement of the chair frame disposed between the upper and lower bracket of the rocker spring assembly. The present invention further includes means for suppressing the noise generated by other spring elements associated with a reclining or rocking/reclining chair.

Rocking/reclining chair having limit means and noise suppression means

A swivel recliner/rocker chair which even more effectively resists unwanted rocking of the swivel base member thereof when the chair is rocked forwardly of the swivel base member, and which further is limited in its rearward reclining or rocking motion to a predetermined degree so as to thereby limit rocking of the swivel base member that might occur if the chair is reclined or rocked rearwardly of the swivel base member to an excessive degree. The chair includes a pair of rocker blocks having a flat section formed thereon and a pair of spring assemblies having upper and lower bracket members. The upper bracket members are secured to the rocker blocks and the lower bracket members are secured to side members of a base assembly such that the rocker blocks rock on the side members during reclining or rocking movement of the chair. The upper and lower bracket members are further secured to their respective rocker blocks and side members such that each spring assembly exerts a slight tensioning force to urge the seating section of the chair into a slightly reclined position even when there is no occupant seated in the chair. This substantially eliminates any possibility of forward rocking motion of the swivel base member when the chair is rocked forwardly. The flat portions of each rocker block further serve to limit the maximum reclining and rearward rocking movement of the seating section to thereby avoid any undesirable rocking of the swivel base member as the seating section is reclined or rocked in a rearward direction.

Swivel recliner/rocker chair having preloaded base assembly

An adjustable rocker spring apparatus for adjustably positioning a rocker block of a rocking chair relative to a stationary base of the chair. The apparatus generally comprises an L-shaped upper bracket and an L-shaped lower bracket each having forward, central and rearward portions. Each such forward, central and rearward portion include a plurality of apertures therein. A pair of independent coil springs are disposed between portions of the upper and lower brackets and secured thereto by tabs. The independent coil springs are alignably maintained and positioned by slot openings in lip portions of each of the L-shaped upper and lower brackets. The plurality of independent apertures in each of the forward, central and rearward portions of the upper and lower brackets enable the apparatus to be adjustably secured with conventional fasteners to a rocker block and stationary base of a rocking chair. Precise adjustment and proper balance of the rocking chair can thereby be obtained when using rocker blocks and/or stationary bases of differing configurations, or when using uniform rocker blocks and stationary bases of chairs having differing padding, upholstery, or option features, without a need for modifying the apparatus or the rocker block or stationary base of the rocking chair.

Growing community of inventors

Newport, MI, United States of America

Judy E Fay