Walter Edwin Rogers

US Patent:

46945156, Sep 22, 1987

Filed:

Jun 26, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/878587

Inventors:

Walter C. Rogers - Denton NC

Assignee:

Parma Corporation - Denton NC

International Classification:

A47C 2708

US Classification:

5 13

Abstract:

An air mattress comprising an inflatable and deflatable flexible body enclosing an air chamber having a resilient means urging the opposite upper and lower walls of the body apart while being yieldable to permit the body to be folded and deflated. In one embodiment, removable a closure is attached to the body to be received in a portal in the wall of the body to seal the chamber closed. When the body is unfolded into a generally horizontal or planar position with the portal opened, the resilient means within the body will separate the upper and lower walls of the body drawing air from the atmosphere into the chamber, the portal may then be closed to seal the air in the chamber. The air mattress is illustrated on a foldable bed including frame portions which are foldable into overlying positions to fold and deflate the mattress and which are unfoldable into a horizontal position to unfold and inflate the mattress. In a preferred embodiment, a valve in the portal is actuated to open position to deflate the mattress upon folding of the bed frame and to closed position upon unfolding of the bed frame. A linkage interconnects the valve and the bed frame to actuate the valve in response to folding or unfolding of the bed frame.

US Patent:

45317780, Jul 30, 1985

Filed:

Sep 29, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/426707

Inventors:

Walter C. Rogers - Denton NC

Assignee:

Parma Corporation - Denton NC

International Classification:

A47C 102

US Classification:

297 85

Abstract:

A handle-operated, wall-avoiding, three-way recliner utilizes a track system for moving the chair from the TV position to the fully reclined position. However, in contrast to conventional "track recliners", the track does not come into play until the chair has been moved to the TV position through means of a linkage system. Such movement is preferably initiated by a handle operatively connected to the footrest linkage which is biased closed by a yieldable spring mechanism.

US Patent:

45196478, May 28, 1985

Filed:

Jan 11, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/457181

Inventors:

Walter C. Rogers - Denton NC

Assignee:

Parma Corporation - Denton NC

International Classification:

A47C 102

US Classification:

297 85

Abstract:

A rocker-recliner chair including a base, rocker cams mounted on the base, a unitary seat and armrest assembly mounted on the rocker cams by a novel linkage system for movement between a closed or generally upright position with the associated footrest closed, a TV position wherein the footrest has been extended and the seat inclined relative to the rocker cam, and any one of a number of advanced reclining positions where the footrest remains extended and the backrest has moved relative to the seat while the seat has moved relative to the rocker cam. When the chair is in the TV or any advanced reclining position, a "rock-blocking" mechanism prevents forward-rearward rocking of the cams relative to the base, however, the cams are permitted to rock rearwardly to permit movement of the seat into advanced reclining positions. In the preferred embodiment, actuation of the footrest to the TV position is initiated by means of a handle positioned on one side of the chair. This opens a release mechanism to allow the chair to be moved to TV position through the weight of the occupant of the chair.

US Patent:

40712753, Jan 31, 1978

Filed:

Mar 22, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/669270

Inventors:

Walter Clark Rogers - Denton NC

Assignee:

Royal Development Company, Inc. - High Point NC

International Classification:

A47C 102

US Classification:

297 85

Abstract:

Linkage operated recliner chair having a TV position wherein a footrest is projected forwardly by a control handle while the seat and backrest undergoes slight reclining movement relative to a fixed base. However, due to linkage connected between the footrest linkage and the seal linkage, the seat and backrest which is pivotally mounted to the seat, also undergo forward translatory motion during movement of the footrest to extended position. Thus, while the seat and backrest undergo rearward and downward reclining movement, the backrest will not engage an adjacent wall due to the translatory movement. Such action in the trade is known as wall avoiding. Further, and more pronounced, wall avoiding action is achieved by the chair of the present invention when moving to further reclining positions beyond the TV position. These positions are obtained by the occupant exerting back pressure on the backrest which, while causing the backrest to pivot in a rearward direction relative to the seat to increase the angle therebetween, also causes the actuation of two closed linkages to project the seat forwardly and consequently the backrest connected to it with compounded wall avoiding action. To return the chair to normal or upright position with the footrest retracted, the occupant removes back pressure from the backrest which causes the chair and seat to return to TV position after which the control handle is operated to retract the footrest and move the backrest and seat to normal or upright position.

US Patent:

46919619, Sep 8, 1987

Filed:

Feb 14, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/829209

Inventors:

Walter C. Rogers - Denton NC
Raymond E. Holobaugh - Jamestown NC

Assignee:

Parma Corporation - Denton NC

International Classification:

A47C 1036

US Classification:

297 61

Abstract:

In a one-way recliner chair of the type having a stationary backrest frame which extends upwardly behind a movable backrest, a headrest is mounted on the top of the stationary backrest frame for movement between a retracted position when the chair is in the normal position, and a projected position when the chair is in the reclining position. The headrest is automatically actuated between the aforesaid positions by means of a linklage interconnecting the headrest and the movable backrest upon movement of the latter between a normal or generally upright position and a reclining position.

US Patent:

43570496, Nov 2, 1982

Filed:

Aug 12, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/177478

Inventors:

Walter C. Rogers - Denton NC
David S. Hoffman - High Point NC

International Classification:

A47C 102

US Classification:

297 75

Abstract:

A recliner chair having a seat and backrest rigidly interconnected to move as a unit and being mounted on a stationary frame for movement into reclining positions by the chair occupant pulling-off the armrests which are included as part of the stationary frame. The footrest mechanism is actuated to extended position when the seat and backrest unit is moved into reclining position by means of the linkage mechanisms which mount the seat and backrest unit to the main frame; the latter being effected through a drive transmission linkage interconnecting the footrest mechanism with the mounting mechanism of the seat and backrest unit. The footrest mechanism provides dual footrest or leg supports which are positioned generally in vertical planes one behind the other at the front of the chair when in the retracted position. Due to an improved footrest mechanism, the footrest supports are positioned sufficiently below the front edge of the seat to permit the front edge of the seat frame to be provided with a soft construction for comfort.

US Patent:

40486800, Sep 20, 1977

Filed:

Sep 14, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/723159

Inventors:

Walter Clark Rogers - Denton NC

Assignee:

Royal Development Company, Inc. - High Point NC

International Classification:

A47C 1710
A47C 1714

US Classification:

5 37R

Abstract:

A sofa bed including a seat and back pivotally connected to each other and mounted to a stationary base by means of a five-bar linkage located at opposite sides of the sofa bed. In the "bed position," the five-bar linkage is in an open or expanded state with the seat and back extending in coplanar relationship in horizontal plane parallel to and above the base. In the "sofa position," the five-bar linkage is closed or collapsed and the seat extends in a horizontal plane and the back extends in an upright inclined position. To actuate the sofa bed between said positions, the seat is grasped at a forward edge portion and slightly raised which activates a second linkage, namely a four-bar linkage, which actuates and controls the five-bar linkage while permitting it to either open or close depending upon the position of the sofa bed to be achieved. The four-bar linkage includes a link in the form of a crank pivotally connected at one end to the seat and a second link having one end pivotally connected to the opposite end of the crank and an intermediate portion pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of one of the links of the five-bar linkage which also forms one of the links of the four-bar linkage. Stop means are provided for limiting and defining both positions of the sofa bed.

US Patent:

47580445, Jul 19, 1988

Filed:

Apr 27, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/042853

Inventors:

Walter C. Rogers - Denton NC

Assignee:

Parma Corporation - Denton NC

International Classification:

A47C 3027

US Classification:

297265

Abstract:

A rocking chair having a fixed base, and a seat frame mounted on the base for rocking movement by means of a plurality of rocker cams mounted one behind the other. The rocker cams are pivotally mounted to one of the base or seat frame and having arcuate surfaces engaged against the other of the base or seat frame. This achieves a predetermined desired motion of the seat relative to the base. In one embodiment, a pair of such rocking cams are provided in tandem on each side of the chair. In another embodiment, only a single pair of cams are provided in tandem at a central portion of the chair. In another embodiment three cams are provided in a triangular arrangement.