US3061366A

US3061366A - Reclining chair of the double movement type

Info

Publication number: US3061366A
Application number: US770072A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fridtjof F Schliephacke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-10-28
Filing date: 1958-10-28
Publication date: 1962-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1979-10-30

Description

F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,061,366

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE DOUBLE MOVEMENT TYPE Ogt. 30, 1962 INVENTOR. FIQ/DK/OF F. JCbL/EPH/ICKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1958 30, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,061,356

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE DOUBLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed Oct. 28, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR. FIQ IDTJOF F: 5 CH4 lEPf/ACKE A TI' k IYJ Oct. 30, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,061,366

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE DOUBLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed Oct. 28, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet s A2 INVENTORQ AQ/DTJOF E sow l'P/M (K5 JTTORNGXS United States, Patent ()filice 3,961,366 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,061,366 RECLINHNG CHAIR OF THE DGUBLE I MOVEMENT TYPE Frzdtwf F. Sehliephaclre, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Idoynton Beach, Fla. Filed Oct. 28, B358, fier. No. 770,672 9 Ciaims. ill. 297-88) The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs of the type including a seat, back-rest and leg-rest mounted on a support for coordinated movement, and in particular to an improved seat and leg-rest control arrangement for a reclining chair of the double movement type in which the seat and leg-rest are coordinated to and controlled by the movement of the back-rest.

The usual reclining chair comprises a support, a bodysupporting unit including a back-rest and seat movably or rockably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively, and a leg-rest appropriately coordinated to the body-supporting unit for movement into an elevated leg-supporting position as a function of and in response to the reclining movement of the body-supporting unit.

A recent development in reclining chairs has been the so-called double movement type of chair which has been designed to provide a semi-reclined or intermediate tilted position for the chair occupant suitable for reading, television viewing and the like, and a number of complete relaxation positions in which the chair occupant is accommodated with the prescribed angular relationship established between the various components of the chair to support the body in a reclining position appropriate for total or complete relaxation. During the first movement phase into the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, the angular relationship between the seat and backrest remains substantially fixed, with the leg-rest being elevated to a leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat; and during the second movement phase, the leg-rest remains in its elevated leg-supporting position and the included angle between the seat and back-rest opens up to establish the various complete relaxation positions.

Broadly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved control arrangement for a reclining chair of the aforesaid type. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved control arrangement for a reclining chair of the double movement type wherein the seat is inclined and the leg-rest is elevated as a function of the reclining movement of the back-rest.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstration features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest and seat movably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively through a first motion phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and through a second motion phase from an intermediate tilted position to a reclining position, and control means for inclining the seat in response to the reclining movement. The control means includes a seat control member pivotally connected to the seat, means including a first pivot on the support mounting the seat control member for turning movement about the first pivot during the first motion phase and for displacement relative to the first pivot during the second motion phase, a second pivot on the support, and means on the seat control member and engaging the second pivot in response to reclining movement to establish the end of the first motion phase and providing another pivot for the seat control member during the second motion phase. A leg-rest is mounted for movement from the stored position beneath the forward end of the seat to an elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat, and a leg-rest control is operatively connected to the leg-rest for elevating the leg-rest during the first motion phase.

The above brief description, as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several presently preferred embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View, with parts broken away and sectioned, of an improved reclining chair of the double movement type embodying features of the present invention, the chair being shown in its upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the chair in the fully reclined position;

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of a further reclining chair of the double movement type embodying features of the present invention, the chair being shown in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with the chair shown in the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position; and,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair in the fully reclined position.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type constructed in accordance with the present invention, and generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The chair includes a chair frame or a support 12 including

opposite side walls

14, 16 interconnected by appropriate cross-braces and supported generally above the level of the floor on depending legs, such as 18.

Movably mounted on the chair support or frame is a body-supporting means or unit which includes a backrest 20 and a seat 22 mounted for reclining and inclining movement respectively. The back-rest 2% is mounted for reclining movement at a back-rest pivot 24 on its lower end which is journaled on the chair frame 12 intermediate the

opposite side walls

14, 16 while the seat 22 is mounted for inclining movement at a seat pivot 26 on the backrest which seat pivot is spaced above the back-rest pivot 24. The seat pivot 24 is provided on rearwardly directed rigid hanger arms 28 fixed to the seat, with the seat 22 being drawn rearwardly and tilted slightly in response to reclining movement of the back-rest 2t).

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 22 is a leg-rest 30 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1, to various elevated leg-supporting positions as shown progressively in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this embodiment the leg-rest 30 is mounted directly on the forward end of the seat by a leg-rest hanger arm 32 which is rigidly connected to the leg-rest 30, for example by the rivets 34, and has a pivotal connection 36 at its upper end to the seat 22. Although the leg-rest 30 is pivotally mounted directly on the seat by a single arm or link it will be appreciated that generally known linkage arrangements may be employed for suspending the leg-rest beneath the seat for elevating movement as a function of and in response to the chair movement.

In accordance with the present invention, a control linkage or arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 38, is operatively Connected to the 1eg-rest 30 and controlled from the back-rest 20 for imparting a prescribed inclination to the seat 22 and for elevating the leg-rest 30 in the required timed relationship to establish the double movement mode of operation. The control arrangement 38 includes a seat control member 40 which is in the form of a single control plate having a pivotal connection 42 to the seat 22 via the depending bracket 43 fixed to the seat. Spaced apart first and second

pivotal mounts

44, 46 are provided on the support at side by side locations, with the first pivotal mount or pivot 44 being fixed on a fixture or bracket 48 secured to the support, and with the second pivotal mount or pivot 46 being fixed on a fixture or bracket 50 secured to the support. Means are provided for mounting the seat control member 40 for turning movement about the first pivotal mount 44 during the first motion phase of the chair and for displacement relative to the, first pivot during the second motion phase and for further mounting the seat control member 40 for turning movement about the second pivotal mount 46 during the second motion phase. In this illustrative embodiment, the seat control member 4 3 is provided with a first integral guide member 52 formed with a guideway 54 and a second integral guide member 56 formed with a guideway 58. The guideway 54 includes terminal or seating portions 54a, 54b serving as respective bearings for the second pivotal mount 46 with the guideway having a curvature on a radius about the first pivotal mount 44. The guideway 58 includes terminal or seating portions 53a, 58!) serving as respective bearings for the pivotal mount 44, with the guideway 53 having a curvature on a radius about the second pivotal mount 46. Stated somewhat difierently, the curvature of the respective guideways 54, 58 is on a radius equal to the spacing between the respective

pivotal mounts

44, 46. During the first motion phase of the chair movement, the seat control member 40 turns on the first pivotal mount 44 which is seated within the terminal or seating portion 58a of the guideway 58, with the guide member 52 and guideway 54 being translated or displaced through a downward lost motion travel relative to the second pivot or mount 46. During the second motion phase, the second pivotal mount 46 is seated at the terminal or seating portion 54b of the guideway 54 which mounts the seat control member 40 for turning movement about the pivotal mount 46 as a relatively stationary pivot, with the guide member 56 and guideway 58 being displaced or translated through an upward lost motion travel relative to the first pivotal mount 44. The seat control function during the first phase of the reclining movement is determined by the spacing between the terminal or seating portion 58a of the guideway 58 and the pivotal connection 42 to the seat since the first pivotal mount 44 is effectively pivoted at said terminal portion. In a sense, the portion of the seat control member 40 intermediate the

pivots

42, 44 during the first motion phase may be considered to be a simple link of a length equal to the spacing between the

pivots

42, 44. The seat control function during the second motion phase is determined by the spacing between the pivotal connection 42 to the seat and the terminal or seating portion 54b of the guideway 54 of the guide member 52 which serves as a relatively fixed journal or bearing for the second pivotal mount 46 during the second phase of the chair movement. In a sense, the portion of the seat control member 40 intermediate the

pivots

42, 46 during the second motion phase may be considered to be a seat control link of a length equal to the spacing between the

pivots

42, 46.

Provision is made for elevating the leg-rest during the first phase of the chair movement and in response to the reclining movement of the back-rest 20 in the form of a leg-rest control or connecting link 60 which has its rearward end pivotally mounted on the support and has its forward end operatively connected to the leg-rest. In the specific form illustrated, the leg-rest control or connecting link '60 is pivotally mounted on the support at the pivotal mount 46 and has a pivotal connection 62 at its forward end to the leg-rest hanger arm 32 at a location spaced below the pivotal connection 36 to the seat 22.

A typical sequence of operations will now be described,

making progressive reference to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings to facilitate a more thorough understanding of the present invention:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair in the upright or sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 and wishes to move the chair to the semi-reclined or intermediate tilted position, the occupant presses against the backrest 20 causing the back-rest 20 to pivot rearwardly about the back-rest pivot 24. The rearward pivotal or reclining movement of the back-rest 20 pulls the seat 22 rearwardly which in turn causes the pivotal connection 42 to the seat control member 40 to move through an upward and rearward are, turning the seat control member 40 about the pivotal mount 44. The portion of the seat control member 40 intermediate the

pivots

42, 44 imparts a first inclination to the seat appropriate to maintain a substantially fixed angular relationship between the backrest 29 and the seat 22. The rearward displacement of the seat 22 under the control of the back-rest 20 is further effective to cause the pivotal connection 36 to the legrest hanger arm 32 to move rearwardly relative to the pivotal connection 62 thus moving the leg-rest into an elevated leg-supporting position relative to the seat 22. As the seat control member 46 turns about the pivotal mount 44, the guide member 52 translates relative to the pivotal mount 46 until such time as the upper terminal portion 54b of the guideway 54 comes into contact with the pivotal mount 46 thereby effectively blocking further turning movement of the control member 40 about the pivotal mount 44. When the pivotal mount 46 is engaged by the terminal portion 54b of the guideway 54, the end of the first motion phase of the chair is established, with the back-rest 20 and seat 22 rocked rearwardly into an intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, with the legrest elevated as shown in FIG. 2.

Upon further pressure against the back-rest by the chair occupant the second phase of the chair movement is initiated, with the seat control member 40 turning about the pivotal mount 46 journaled at the upper terminal portion 54b of the guideway 54. During the second phase of the reclining movement the portion of the seat control member 40 intermediate the

pivots

42, 46 serves to achieve the seat control function, with the pivotal mount 44 translating along the guideway 58 until such time as the lower terminal portion 58b comes into contact with the pivotal mount 44 establishing the end of the second motion phase of chair movement, with the seat, back-rest and leg-rest in the required relationship to establish the fully reclined position for the chair, as shown in FIG. 3. During the second motion phase the leg-rest 30 moves substantially as a unit with the seat, with the seat control or connecting link 60 turning about the pivotal mount 46, as may be seen by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3. When the chair occupant desires to assume either the intermediate tilted position or the sitting position, the chair occupant leans forward and exerts his weight against the leg-rest 30 which brings the chair first to the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 and then ultimately to the sitting position of FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 4-6 inclusive there is diagrammatically illustrated a further embodiment of reclining chair in accordance with the present invention wherein the integral guide member 52 and guideway 54 on the seat control member, such as provided for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, has been eliminated, with only one guide member and guideway providing the guiding action during one of the phases of the reclining movement. In view of the similarity between the chair illustrated in this embodiment and the chair illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 inclusive, corresponding reference numerals have been used as part of a series.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings, there is shown a further embodiment of reclining chair of the double movement type constructed in accordance with the present invention, and generally designated by the reference numeral 110. The chair includes a frame or a support 112 essentially of the structure previously described.

Movably mounted on the chair support or frame is a body-supporting means or unit which includes a backrest 120 and a seat 122 mounted for reclining and inclining movement respectively. The back-rest 120 is mounted for reclining movement at a back-rest pivot 124 at its lower end which is journaled on the chair frame, while the seat 122 is mounted for inclining movement at a seat pivot 126 on the back-rest by rearwardly directed rigid hangers 128.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 122 is a leg-rest 130 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position as shown in FIG. 4 to various elevated leg-supporting positions, as shown progressively in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment the leg-rest 130 is mounted directly on the forward end of the seat by a leg-rest hanger arm 132 which is rigidly connected to the leg-rest 130, by the rivets 134 and has a pivotal connection 136 at its upper end to the seat 122.

In accordance with the present invention, a control arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 138, is operatively connected to the leg-rest 130 and controlled from the back-rest 120 for imparting a prescribed inclination to the seat 122 and for elevating the leg-rest 130 in the required relationship to establish the double movement mode of operation. The control arrangement 138 includes a seat control member 140 in the form of a single control plate which has a pivotal connection 142 to the seat via the depending bracket 143 fixed to the seat 122. Spaced apart first and second

pivotal mounts

144, 146 are provided on the support at side by side locations, with the first pivotal mount or pivot 144 being supported on a fixture or bracket 148 and with the second pivotal mount or pivot 146 being supported on a mounting fixture or bracket 150. Means are provided for mounting the seat control member 140 for turning movement about the first pivotal mount 144 during the first motion phase of the chair, and for further mounting the seat control member 140 for turning movement about the second pivotal mount 146 during the second motion phase. In this embodiment the seat control member 140 is provided with an integral bearing member 152 formed with a seating notch 154 and an integral guide member 156 formed with a guideway 158. The guideway 158 includes terminal portions 158a, 1581) serving as respective bearings or seats for the pivotal mount 144, with a guideway 158 having a curvature on a radius about the second pivotal mount 146. During the first motion phase of the chair movement, the seat control member 140 turns on the first pivot or mount 144 which is seated within the terminal or bearing portion 158a of the guideway 158, with the bearing member 152 and seating notch 154 being translated or displaced through an are about the first pivot 144 and toward the second pivot or mount 146. During the second motion phase, the second pivotal mount 146 is disposed in the seating notch 154 of the bearing member 152 which mounts the seat control member 140 for turning movement about the pivotal mount 146, with the guide member 156 and guideway 158 being displaced through an arcuate lost motion travel relative to the first pivotal mount 144. The seat control function during the first phase of the reclining movement is determined by the s acing between the terminal or seating portion 158a of the guideway 158 and the pivotal connection 142 to the seat since the first pivotal mount 144 is elfectively pivoted at said terminal portion. In a sense, the portion of the seat control member 140 intermediate the

pivots

142, 144 during the first motion phase may be considered to be a simple link of a length equal to the spacing between the

pivots

142, 144. The seat control function during the second motion phase is determined by the spacing between the pivotal connection 142 to the seat and the seating notch 154 of the bearing member 152 serving as a journal or bearing for the second pivotal mount 146 during the second phase of the chair movement. In a sense, the portion of the seat control member intermediate the

pivots

142, 146 during the second motion phase may be considered to be a seat control link of a length equal to the spacing between the

pivots

142, 146.

Provision is made for elevating the leg-rest duringthe first phase of the chair movement and in response to the reclining movement of the back-rest 126 which takes the form of a leg-rest control or connecting link 160 pivotally mounted on the support at the pivotal mount 146 and having a pivotal connection 162 at its forward end to the leg-rest hanger arm 132 at a location spaced below the pivotal connection 136 to the seat 122.

In lieu of employing a guide member and guideway as illustrated in this embodiment, such guide member and guideway may be replaced with a bearing member and seating notch comparable to the

elements

152, 154. However, as a practical matter it is found to be more feasible to construct the linkage with at least one guide member and guideway, which guide member and guideway may be provided for either of the stationary pivots which successively mount the control member for turning movement during the first and second phases of the chair movement.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there is provided herein an exceptionally simple, yet effective, control arrangement for obtaining double movement in a reclining chair of the type including a movable back-rest, seat and leg-rest, with the leg-rest being elevated during a first phase of reclining movement and with substantially no change in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest, and with the leg-rest remaining elevated during the second phase of the reclining movement with an increase or opening up of the angle between the seat and back-rest.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest and seat movably mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively through a first motion phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a reclining position, a legrest, means mounting said leg-rest for movement from a stored position beneath the forward end of said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position, and control means for inclining said seat and elevating said leg-rest in response to said reclining movement, said control means including a seat control member pivotally connected to said seat, a first pivotal mount on said support, means mounting said seat control member for turning movement about said first pivotal mount during said first motion phase and for displacement relative to said first pivot during said second motion phase, a second pivotal .mount on said support, means on said seat control member and en aging said second pivotal mount in response to said reclining movement to establish the end of said first motion phase and mounting said seat control member for turning movement during said second motion phase, and a leg-rest control link operatively connected to said leg-rest and pivotally mounted at said second pivotal mount.

2. A reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest and seat movably mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively through a first motion phase from a sitting position to an intermediate posi tion and through a second motion phase from said inter- U mediateposition to a reclining position, a leg-rest, means pivotally mounting said leg-rest on said seat for movement to an elevated leg-supporting position, and control means for inclining said seat and elevating said leg-rest in response to said reclining movement, said control means including a seat control member pivotally connected to said seat, means including a first pivot on said support mounting said seat control member for turning movement about said first pivot during said first motion phase and for displacement relative to said first pivot during said second motion phase, a second pivot on said support, means on said seat control member and engaging said second pivot in response to said reclining movement to establish the end of said first motion phase and providing a pivotal mount for said seat control member during said second motion phase, and a leg-rest control link pivotally connected to said leg-rest and pivotally mounted on said support at said second pivot.

3. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means normally disposed in a sitting position and including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support for inclining and reclining movement respectively, a legest disposed in a stored position beneath said seat and mounted for elevating movement, and a control linkage for inclining said seat and for elevating said leg-rest, said control linkage including a control member, means pivotally connecting said control member to said seat, means mounting said control member on said support for turning movement about two spaced apart pivots and for translation relative to said two pivots, said control member being mounted for turning movement about one of said pivots when in said sitting position, said control member being turned on said one pivot in response to said first portion of said reclining movement to impart a prescribed inclination to said seat and to move said legrest into said leg-supporting position, said control member being turned on the other pivot in response to a further portion of said reclining movement to impart a further prescribed inclination to said seat and to translate said leg-rest as a unit with said seat.

4. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat, a leg-rest, means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for reclining and inclining movement of said back-rest and seat respectively from a sitting position to a reclining position during which said back-rest is angularly displaced relative to said seat, means movably mounting said leg-rest for movement from a stored position beneath said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position in front of said seat during a first portion of said reclining movement and for appreciably no movement relative to said seat during a further portion of said reclining movement, and control means including first and second spaced apart pivots on said support, a control member, means pivotally connecting said control member to said seat, means mounting said control member to turn about said first pivot during said first portion of said reclining movement to incline said seat and to elevate said leg-rest, and means mounting said control member to turn about said second pivot during said further portion of said reclining movement to incline said seat with said leg-rest being moved substantially as a unit with said seat.

5. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat, a leg-rest, means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said support for reclining and inclining movement of said back-rest and seat respectively from a sitting position to a reclining position during which said back-rest is angularly displaced relative to said seat, means movably mounting said leg-rest for movement from a stored position beneath said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position in front of said seat during a first portion of said reclining movement and for appreciably no movement relative to said seat during a further portion of said reclining movement, and control means including first and second spaced apart pivots on said support, a control member, means pivotally connecting said control member to said seat, and means mounting said control member to turn about said first pivot during said first portion of said reclining movement to incline said seat and to turn about said second pivot during said further portion of said reclining movement to further incline said seat, said mounting means including at least one guideway having a curvature on a radius about one pivot and guidingly engaging the other pivot.

6. A reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest mounted on said support for reclining movement about a back-rest pivot, a seat mounted on said back-rest at a seat pivot for inclining movement, said seat pivot being spaced above said back-rest pivot with the portion of said back-rest therebetween providing a rear guiding link, said seat and back-rest being adapted to move through a first motion phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position with substantially no change in the angular relationship between said'back-rest and seat and through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a reclining position with an increase in the angular relationship between said back-rest and seat, seat control means for inclining said seat during said first and second motion phases in response to said reclining movement, said seat control means including a seat control member having a pivotal connection to said seat, means including a first pivot on said support spaced from said pivotal connection and mounting said seat control member for turning movement about said first pivot during said first motion phase, said seat control member intermediate said pivotal connection and said first pivot providing a first front guiding link during said first motion phase, a second pivot on said support spaced from said pivotal connection and said first pivot, and means on said seat control member enaging said second pivot in response to said reclining movetent at the end of said first motion phase, said seat control member intermediate said pivotal connection and said second pivot providing a second front guiding link during said second motion phase.

7. A reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest mounted on said support for reclining movement about a back-rest pivot, a seat mounted on said back-rest at a seat pivot for inclining movement, said seat pivot being spaced above said back-rest pivot with the portion of said back-rest therebetween providing a rear guiding link, said seat and back-rest being adapted to move through a first motion phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position with substantially no change in the angular relationship between said back-rest and seat and through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a reclining position with an increase in the angular relationship between said back-rest and seat, seat control means for inclining said seat during said first and second motion phases in response to said reclining movement, said seat control means including a seat control member having a pivotal connection to said seat, means including a first pivot on said support spaced from said pivotal connection and mounting said seat control member for turning movement about said first pivot during said first motion phase, said seat control member intermediate said pivotal connection and said first pivot providing a first front guiding link during said first motion phase, a second pivot on said support spaced from said pivotal connection and said first pivot, and means on said seat control member engaging said second pivot in response to said reclining movement at the end of said first motion phase, said seat control member intermediate said pivotal connection and said second pivot providing a second front guiding link during said second motion phase, said second seat control link being longer in length than said first seat control link and arranged such that the inclining movement of said seat during said second mo- .tion phase is at a rate in relation to the reclining movement of said back-rest to increase the angular relationship between said back-rest and said seat.

8. A reclining chair comprising a support, a backrest and seat movably mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively through a first m tion phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a reclining position, seat control means for inclining said seat in response to said reclining movement including a seat control member having a pivotal connection to said seat, means including a first pivot on said support spaced from said pivotal connection and mounting said seat control member for turning movement about said first pivot during said first motion phase and for displacement relative to Said first pivot during said second motion phase, said seat control member intermediate said pivotal connection and said first pivot providing a first seat control link during said first motion phase, a second pivot on said support spaced from said pivotal connection and said first pivot, and means on said seat control member and engaging said second pivot in response to said reclining movement at the end of said first motion phase, said seat control member intermediate said pivotal connection and said second pivot providing a second seat control link during said second motion phase.

9. A reclining chair comprising a support, a back-rest and seat movably mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively through a first motion phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a reclining position, a leg-rest, means mounting said leg-rest for movement from a stored position beneath the forward end of said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position, seat control means for inclining said seat in response to said reclining movement, said seat control means including a seat control member having a pivotal connection to said seat, means including a first pivot on said support spaced from said pivotal connection and mounting said seat control member for turning movement about said first pivot during said first motion phase and for displacement relative to said first pivot during said second motion phase, said seat control member intermediate said pivot-a1 connection and said first pivot providing a first seat control link during said first motion phase, a second pivot on said support spaced from said pivotal connection and said first pivot, and means on said seat control member engaging said second pivot in response to said reclining movement at the end of said first motion phase, said seat control member intermediate said pivotal connection and said second pivot providing a second seat control link during said second motion phase and a leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest and controlled from said back-rest for elevating said leg-rest in response to said reclining movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,497 Luckhardt Oct. 28, 1952 2,746,520 Ducrot May 22, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 768,897 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1957