US3226155A - Combination rocking and reclining chair - Google Patents

Description

1965 s. c. WHITEFORD 3,

COMBINATION ROCKING AND RECLINING CHAIR Filed July 1, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Gem m C. [My/remap 1965 G. c. WHITEFORD 3,226,155

COMBINATION ROCKING AND RECLINING CHAIR Filed July 1, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NEY Dec. 28, 1965 c. WHITEFORD 3,226,155

COMBINATION ROCKING AND RECLINING' CHAIR Filed July 1, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVENTOR. 690 mm C. Wv/rzmeo United States Patent 3,226,155 COMBINATION ROCKING AND RECLINING CHAIR Grover C. Whiteford, Main and Chapel Sts., Delta, Pa. Filed July 1, 1964, Ser. No. 379,603 7 Claims. (Cl. 297-85) This invention pertains to a combination rocking and reclining chair and, more particularly, a chair of such type having a footrest or ottoman also combined with the chair and movable between retracted and extended positions relative to the seat of the chair.

Various types of so-called easy chairs of a reclining nature have been developed heretofore. Some of these have included projectable footrests of various types. Still others also have provided a seat and back capable of being rocked relative to a stationary base, these being the well-known platform-type rockers which include actual curved rockers supported by strips upon which said curved rockers are movable.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a combination rocking and reclining chair in which a seat frame is pivotally supported relative to a stationary base and a chair back is pivotally connected to the rear end of the seat frame for movement between a substantially vertical position and an inclined rearward position relative to said seat frame, said seat frame also supporting linkage means operable to support and rnovably position a footrest between a retracted, inoperative position and an extended, operative position forwardly of the front end of the seat frame, the supporting and actuating linkage for the footrest being controlled and actuated by movement of the chair back relative to the seat frame.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the pivot means for the seat frame relative to the base that the seat unit comprising the chair back and footrest, which are directly supported by said chair base, is capable of being rocked through a restricted, predetermined arc in all permitted positions of the back and footrest relative to the seat frame and cushion supported thereby.

Still another object of the invention is to support the chair back by means of an auxiliary frame pivotally connected to the rear end of the seat frame and also provide actuating means connected to said auxiliary frame and also connected to the linkage for the footrest so as to effect actuation of the latter linkage when said auxiliary frame and the chair back connected thereto is moved relative to the seat frame and cushion thereon.

A further object of the invention is to locate the pivot means for the unit comprising the chair seat to which the chair back and footrest are connected for support so that when a person of average Weight, approximately 180 lbs., for example, is seated in the chair, said pivot means will be substantially vertically in line with the center of gravity of the total weight supported by said pivot means, whereby rocking of the aforementioned seat unit with respect to the stationary base when supported upon a floor, for example, readily may occur in either direction with a minimum amount of effort exerted by the occupant.

A still further object of the invention ancillary to the foregoing object is to provide stationary arm means which project upwardly from the stationary base and are rigidly supported thereby, the upper ends of the arm means terminating in armrests or rails which readily may be engaged by the occupant for purposes of assisting in effecting a pleasant rocking movement, whether the chair back and footrest respectively are in reclining and projected positions, or otherwise.

Still another object of the invention is to provide cushion positioning or retainer means upon the seat frame, whereby a cushion may accurately be positioned upon the Patented Dec. 28, 1965 seat frame and remain in operative position regardless of the extent to which the seat back may be inclined relative to the seat cushion and seat frame, said cushion retainer comprising plate-like means extending upward from the opposite sides of the seat frame, whereby they prevent the sides of the cushion adjacent the arm means from contacting the latter.

One further object of the invention is to provide clutch means operable preferably with respect to the linkage associated with the seat and auxiliary frames and operable to restrain the seat back against pivotal movement relative to the seat frame, such as when only light pressure is exerted against the back, but readily yield-s when more than light pressure is exerted in order that the seat back may be inclined relative to the seat means and the footrest incidentally be projected.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the drawings comprising a part thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an exemplary chair embodying the principles of the present invention, said figure illustrating, in full lines, the chair in upright position, and, in broken lines, the back being shown in reclining position and the footrest extended for use.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing in solid lines several frame arrangements of the chair in related position relative to base means and stationary side arms, the latter being illustrated in broken lines for purposes of simplifying the illustration.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the chair shown in FIG. 1, but illustrated on a larger scale, said figure primarily being for purposes of illustrating the frame means of FIG. 2 in association with linkage means connected to the frame means, said linkage means occupying the position it assumes when the various parts of the chair are in the upright position shown in full lines in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another fragmentary view of the chair illustrating in full lines the same frame and linkage mechanisms as illustrated in FIG. 3, but showing the same in the position they occupy when the various parts of the chair are disposed in the reclining positions thereof, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain details of the frame means and a supporting bracket portion thereon.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of clutch means associated with the linkage and engaging a portion of the same to hold it in temporarily restrained position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective fragmentary view of pivot means connecting certain of the linkage mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the chair shown in the preceding figures and employing a simplified illustration of the linkage mechanism, the chair back being illustrated in two different positions respectively shown in full and broken lines to indicate substantially the limits of rocking movement when the back is positioned in upright position relative to the seat.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view similar to the type of drawing in FIG. 8 to provide a simplified illustration of the linkage mechanism in the position it occupies when the chair back is fully reclined and the footrest is projected, and further showing the chair seat unit in lowermost rocking position.

Referring to the drawings, the essential components of the chair embodying the present invention comprises a base 10 which may be made of wood, or otherwise, and be provided with suitable supporting feet 12, which are engageable with the floor 14. Extending at least a limited distance upwardly from the base 10 and comprising part of the base at opposite sides thereof, are vertical blocks or rails 16, which are for purposes to be described. Also extending upwardly from the base are front and back posts 18 and 20, which, at the upper ends thereof, support armrests or rails 22 stationarily with respect to the base 10 at opposite sides of the chair. The arm rails 22 may be upholstered, as generally indicated in FIG. 1, if so desired. The elements of the chair thus far described are stationary during normal operation there One of the essential features of the chair comprising the present invention resides in the fact that it not only is provided with a chair back 24 which is movable between substantially upright and rearwardly inclined positions with respect to the chair seat 26, but such pivotally connected chair back and chair seat, together with a footrest 28, are pivotally supported as a unit for rocking movement relative to base 10, regardless of the relative positions of the chair back and footrest relative to the chair seat.

The pivotal support of the chair seat unit described above, including chair back 24 and footrest 28, together with the seat 26, comprises a pair of brackets 30 respectively connected rigidly at the upper ends thereof to side rails 32, which are parallel to each other and adjacent opposite sides of the seat cushion 26. The opposite ends of the rails 32 are connected by transversely extending front and rear frame members 34 and 36, which extend transversely of the chair between said side rails. If desired, the frame members 34 and 36 may be formed from wood, while the side rails 12 preferably are metal and in the form of angle irons of suitable size and gauge. When connected together as described above, the side rails and frame members comprise a seat frame 38.

The lower ends of the pivot bracket 30 are provided with bearing holes which receive pivot bolts 40 which extend through any suitable portion of the stationary base 10, such as the rails 16, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2-4. The location of the brackets 30 with respect to the side rails 32 of the seat frame 38 in an axial direction extending from front to rear of the chair, is such that the axes of the transversely aligned pivot bolts 40 will be substantially directly below the center of gravity of the aforementioned seat unit when an occupant of average weight, of the order of 180 lbs., for example, is seated in the chair, the computation of the center of gravity including such weight of the occupant. Particularly when such an occupant is rocking in the chair, however, with respect to the axes of the bolts 40, and especially when extending to the rearward limit of the rocking movement, such as shown in the broken line position of the back'as shown in FIG. 8, concerning the upright position of the chair, or the lower limit or rocking movement when the back is fully inclined, as shown in FIG. 9, aid in restoring the seat unit to midway or forward rocking position is provided by the use of means such as a pair of tension springs 42 respectively disposed adjacent the opposite sides of the base and connected at one end, by links 44 fixed to rail 16, for example, and at the other end being fixed to the upper portions of brackets 30, as clearly shown in FIG. 4.

Pivotally connected to the rearward end of the side rails 32 of the seat frame 38 are auxiliary frame means 46, which include short angle iron rails, 48, for example,

interconnected transversely by a board 50, or any other suitable means, comprising part of the lower end of the chair back 24, for example. The adjacent ends of the rails 32 and 48 are pivotally connected by rivets 52 or the like, thereby permanently pivotally connecting the chair back 24 to the seat frame 32.

The footrest 28, which somewhat resembles an ottoman in operation, at least, preferably is upholstered and is movable between a retracted, inoperative position shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, and a'projected, operative position such as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 9. Support and movement of the footrest 28 is accomplished by linkage type.

means 54 which, generally, is of the so-called lazy-tong The various links thereof have been so proportioned and interconnected by the usual pivot means as to result in movement of the footrest 28 from a substantially vertical, retracted or storage position beneath the forward end of seat cushion 26, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, and a projected, operative and substantially horizontal position shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. The linkage means 54 actually departs from the conventional lazy-tong arrangement by the inclusion of an additional short link 56 in each of the linkage means 54 respectively provided at opposite sides of the chair, the outer ends of the links 56 being pivotally connected to depending flanges 58 on the footrest 28, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 particularly. The linkage means 54 also include an additional supporting link 60 in each set thereof respectively at opposite sides of the chair, but, otherwise, the linkage means 54 are substantially of the lazy-tong type.

The additional supporting links 60 cooperate with the links 62 for purposes of supporting the linkage means 54 relative to the seat frame 38 to which the upper ends of the links 60 and 62 of each set respectively are connected through the employment of angular flanges 64 carried by said seat frame 38. Control and actuation of the linkage means 54 which supports and positions the footrest 28 is effected by means of an additional set of linkage 66 at each side of the frame of the chair, said additional linkage means being pivotally supported by downwardly extending bracket means 68 which, in simplest form, preferably comprises a metal plate, the upper edges of which respectively are connected to the side rails 32 of the seat frame 38, such as by rivets 7 0 and the rivets 52 by which the auxiliary frame rails 48 are pivotally connected to the rails 32 of the seat frame 38.

Adjacent the lower edges of the bracket means 68 at opposite sides of the seat frame 38 are pairs of longitudinally spaced rivets 72 which comprise pivots for certain links of the additional linkage means 66 at opposite sides of the seat frame 38, whereby said additional linkage means 66, the same as linkage means 54, is supported by the seat frame 38 and is movable therewith during all rocking movement thereof. Said additional linkage means 66 is connected to the footrest linkage means 54 by means of intermediate links 74, which, at one end, are pivotally connected to supporting links 60 intermediately of the ends thereof and the opposite ends of links 74 are pivotally connected to the outer ends of link 76 of the linkage means 66. Actuation of linkage means 66, and consequent actuation of footrest linkage means 54, is effected' by means of additional connecting links 78, which are connected at the outer ends to rails 48 of auxiliary frame means 46 and the inner ends thereof are connected to links of additional linkage means 66.

From the foregoing explanation of the various interconnected links and linkage means, it will be seen that when an occupant is seated upon the chair cushion 26, for example, in the normal position thereof as viewed in FIG. 1 in full lines, and in FIG. 3 with the chair back 24 substantially perpendicular with respect to the seat cushion 26, and it is desired to dispose the seat back 24 in the reclined position thereof shown in FIG. 4, for example, and simultaneously project the footrest 28 to its extended, operative position as also shown in FIG. 4, the occupant need merely either lean back somewhat forcefully upon the chair back 24 while firmly seated upon the cushion 26, grasping the armrests 22 with his hands to aid in such movement, if desired, and this will cause the auxiliary frame 46 to be pivotally moved with respect to the chair seat frame 38, thereby projecting the connecting links 78 forwardly to actuate the additional sets of linkage 66 which, in turn, through the medium of intermediate links 74, will actuate the footrest supporting and actuating linkage means 54 to dispose the footrest 28 in the projected, operative position thereof shown in FIG. 4, and also in broken lines in FIG. 1. This takes place entirely while the chair back 24, all of the linkage means, and footrest 28 are supported solely by the chair frame 38 which, in turn, is pivotally supported for rocking movement about the axes of the axially aligned pivot bolts 40, which are pivotally supported relative to the base 10.

It will further be seen from the foregoing that, regardless of whether or not the chair back 24 is positioned in reclined condition with respect to the seat cushion 26 and seat frame 38 with the footrest 28 also projected, or the seat back 24 is in the upright position with respect to the seat cushion and seat frame 38 with the footrest 28 retracted, the seat unit comprising the seat frame and cushion, seat back, and footrest, may be rocked about the pivots 40, through a reasonable arc, such as indicated in diagrammatic manner in FIGS. 8 and 9, in which the views respectively show the back in upright and inclined or reclining position relative to the chair seat. Rocking movement in opposite directions is restricted respectively in rearward direction by engagement of the lower end 50 of the chair back with a rubber bumper 82, for example, and, further, if desired, by engagement of the lower, rearward corner of the bracket means 68 with additional rubber bumpers 84 supported, for example, by a base adjacent opposite sides thereof, such engagement of the chair seat unit with said bumpers 82 and 84 being illustrated in exemplary manner in FIG. 4.

Forward rocking movement of the chair seat unit is limited by engagement, for example, of the side rails 32 of the seat frame 38 with rubber bumper means 86 which are supported by appropriate brackets fixed respectively to the front posts 18 of the stationary base means which support the arm rails 22, as shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 3, wherein the chair seat unit is shown in its forwardmost position at one end of the rocking excursion.

If desired, especially for purposes of facilitating assembly and also providing rigidity, the bracket means 68, which can comprise a sheet metal plate for both rigidity as well as simplicity, as shown in FIG. 5, can be formed integrally with the brackets 30 which are pivotally connected at the lower ends thereof to the pivot bolts 40. Such connection is made quite simply by a horizontal upper web 88, whereby an initial sheet metal blank is formed comprising bracket means 68, web 88 and one of the brackets 30, disposed in planar arrangement, and subsequently bent into the substantially U-shaped configuration shown in FIG. 5. One of the upper corners of the composite bracket means 30, 68 is then disposed within the corner of the side rail 32 of the seat frame 38 and secured thereto by the rivets 52 and 70, the latter also pivotally connecting the inner end of the rails 48 of auxiliary frame means 46 to the seat frame 38, all as clearly shown in FIG. 5.

Particularly under conditions where it is desired, for example, to rock while the chair back 24 is substantially in perpendicular position relative to the seat cushion 26, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, or to sit upright in said position without rocking, clutch means are provided to prevent pivotal movement of the chair back 24 relative to seat cushion 26 until a predetermined, limited amount of pressure is exerted by the occupant, such as by pushing his back against the chair back 24 while seated firmly on the cushion 26 and possibly while engaging the arm rails 22 with his hands to steady himself and also add additional force to such pushing movement against the back 24. One form of exemplary clutch means is illustrated in FIG. 6, it being understood that one of such clutch means will be mounted at each of the two opposite sides of the chair so as to cooperate with each other. The clutch means illustrated in FIG. 6 and also as shown in smaller scale in FIG. 3, is quite simple and need only comprise a somewhat flexible but relatively rigid spring leaf 90, the opposite edges of which are pinched toward each other so as to provide rounded projections, both projecting laterally outward from one face of the leaf 90, such as that face which is nearest link 94 of linkage means 54, for example, as shown in FIG. 6. The clutch leaf is rigidly secured to supporting link 60 intermediately of the ends thereof by any appropriate means, such as a rivet 96 of suitable size and strength.

To facilitate the operation of the clutch means comprising the somewhat stiifly flexible spring leaf 90 and the projections 92 thereon, it is preferred that the rivet 98 by which the outer ends of links 60 and 94 are pivotally connected be affixed thereto so as to be somewhat loose and thus permit a limited amount of flexing of the link 94, whereby all of the flexing for purposes of releasing the clutch will not have to be performed by the spring leaf 90. If desired, a nut and bolt with a suitable compression spring surrounding the bolt may be used in lieu of the rivet 98 and thus exert limited pressure between the links 60 and 94 to further facilitate the operation of the clutch means comprising leaf 90 and the projections 92 thereon. Thus it will be seen that said clutch means will serve to retain the linkage mechanism illustrated in compact, retracted condition in FIG. 3 in such condition, and even until a reasonable amount of pressure is exerted by the occupant upon the chair back 24. When a certain predeterimned amount of force is exerted, however, said clutch means will yield, thereby permitting the chair back 24 to be pivotally moved to the reclined position shown in FIG. 4 and such pivotal movement also will project the footrest 28 to the extended position likewise shown in said figure.

Preferably, the clutch means described above is reversible, whereby after the chair back 24 has been reclined, such as illustrated in FIG. 4, and it is desired to restore the same to upright position, the retracting movement of the linkage 54, for example, at opposite sieds of the frame, respectively will cause the clutch leaf 90, and especially the projections 92 thereon, to re'engage the link 94, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and thereby retain the footrest 28 in retracted, inoperative position and also hold the chair back 24 in upright or substantially perpendicular position relative to the seat cushion 26 and seat frame 38.

To restore the chair back 24 from reclined to substantially upright position with respect to the seat cushion 26 and seat frame 38, it is only necessary for the occupant to lean forwardly while sitting upon the cushion 26 and tend to press downwardly upon the footrest 28, thereby activating the linkage 54 in reverse direction from that in which it is moved when pressing against the chair back 24 for purposes of extending the footrest 28. The operation of the counter-balancing tension springs 42 also will somewhat aid in such forward tilting movement which is somewhat involved with respect to restoring the chair back 24 to upright position and the footrest 28 to its retracted position.

In the preferred construction of the invention, the upholstered portion of the chair back 24 is fixedly secured thereto and movable therewith at all times. However, especially for purposes of dusting and cleaning, it is preferred that the seat cushion 26 be removable with respect to the supporting seat frame 38 and in order to accurately position the seat cushion upon the seat frame, retaining means 100, which may be in the form of stiff sheet metal plates of reasonable gauge, may be fixed to opposite sides of the portion of the seat frame 38 which directly supports the seat cushion 26, and extend respectively at least part way up the height of the seat cushion 26 at opposite sides thereof, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGS. 3 and 4.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A combination rocking and reclining chair comprising in combination, a base arranged to rest stationarily on a floor surface, support means rigid with and extending upward from opposite sides of said base, a seat frame, rigid brackets extending downward from opposite sides of said seat frame, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of said brackets to said support means for pivotal rocking movement of said seat frame relative to said support means and about an axis appreciably below said seat means, said support means extending to a level above said seat frame and engageable by the hands of the occupant, an auxiliary frame pivotally connected to and supported by the rear end of said seat frame, a chair back connected at its lower end to said auxiliary frame to render said back pivotally connected solely to said seat frame for limited movement between substantially vertical and rearwardly inclined positions relative to said seat frame, a footrest, interconnected linkage means movably supported solely by said seat frame and connected to said footrest for movable support thereof between a retracted position substantially beneath said seat frame to an extended horizontal position forwardly of said seat frame, and additional linkage interconnecting said auxiliary frame and linkage means and operable to position said footrest as desired incident to pivotally moving said chair back relative to said seat frame, said seat frame and chair back and foot rest supported thereby being rockable as a unit relative to said base about the pivot means for said chair seat in all positions of said back and footrest relative to said seat frame.

2. The chair according to claim 1 in which similar additional bracket means are fixed to and extend downward from opposite sides of said seat frame, said bracket means pivotally supporting said additional linkage.

3. The chair according to claim 1 further including clutch means comprising movement restraining means engageable with said linkage means and operable to resist limited light pressure against said back tending to pivotally move it from upright position relative to said seat frame, said clutch means being releasable automatically upon the application of force as aforesaid greater than said limited light force and thereby permit movement of said-back to an inclined position relative to said seat frame and the projection of said footrest.

4. A combination rocking and reclining chair comprising in combination, a base arranged to rest stationarily on a floor surface, support means rigid with and extending upwardfrom'opposite sides of said base, a seat frame, rigid brackets extending downward from opposite sides of said seat frame, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of said brackets to said support means for pivotal rocking movement of said seat frame relative to said support means and about an axis appreciably below said seat means, said support means extending to a level above said seat frame and engageable by the hands of the occupant, a chair back extending upward from the rear end of said seat frame, means pivotally connecting said chair back solely to said seat frame for limited movement between substantially vertical and rearwardly inclined positions relative to said seat frame, a footrest, interconnected linkage means movably supported solely by said seat frame and connected to said footrest for movable support thereof between a retracted position substantially beneath said seat frame to an extended horizontal position forwardly of said seat frame, means interconnecting said chair back and linkage means and operable to effect rocking of said seat frame unit relative to said pivotal axis of said chair seat adjacent said base and thereby provide a substantial lever arrn between said arm rests and pivotal axis regardless of the relative positions of said back and foot rest relative to said seat frame.

5. The chair according to claim 4 in which bumper means are mounted stationarily relative to said base means and are positioned to be engaged by the movable frame means of said chair at the end of rocking movement in either direction, thereby to limit such rocking movement and prevent injury to any parts of the chair.

6. The chair according to claim 4 in which a seat cushion is supported by said seat frame and cushion positioning means are carried by the opposite sides of said seat frame and are movable therewith and extend upwardly therefrom along the opposite sides of said cushion to retain said cushion in position thereon and prevent contact thereof with said upwardly extending arm means when said seat frame is being moved pivotally relative to said base.

7. The chair according to claim 6 in which said cushion positioning means comprise thin plate-like means connected rigidly to and extending vertically upward from the opposite sides of said seat frame and are spaced from the adjacent surfaces of said vertically extending arm means to space the sides of said cushion at all times from said sides.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,984 7/1906 Schmersahl 297-91 1,753,470 4/1930 Meyer 297-327 X 2,727,561 12/1955 Bank et a1 297- 2,746,519 5/1956 Krikorian 297-269 2,781,825 2/1957 Lorenz 297-89 2,782,836 2/1957 Krakauer 297-85 2,838,093 6/1958 Bank et a1 297-85X 2,869,618 1/1959 Schliephacke 297-85 2,879,833 3/1959 Fletcher 297-89 X 2,963,077 12/1960 Knabusch et al. 297-269 X 3,096,121 7/1963 Knabusch et a1. 297-269 3,101,971 8/1963 Hampton 297-259 3,135,547 6/1964 Schliephacke 297-83 3,141,700 7/1964 Fletcher 297-271 3,154,345 10/1964 Lambrecht 297-452 3,163,464 12/1964 Martin et al 297-85 FOREIGN PATENTS 213,676 5/1956 Australia.

1,660 1801 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A COMBINATION ROCKING AND RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A BASE ARRANGED TO REST STATIONARILY ON A FLOOR SURFACE, SUPPORT MEANS RIGID WITH AND EXTENDING UPWARD FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BASE, A SEAT FRAME, RIGID BRACKETS EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SEAT FRAME, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID BRACKETS TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR PIVOTAL ROCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID SEAT FRAME RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND ABOUT AN AXIS APPRECIABLY BELOW SAID SEAT MEANS, SAID SUPPORT MEANS EXTNDING TO A LEVEL ABOVE SAID SEAT FRAME AND ENGAGEABLE BY THE HANDS OF THE OCCUPANT, AN AUXILIARY FRAME PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO AND SUPPORTED BY THE REAR END OF SAID SEAT FRAME, A CHAIR BACK CONNBECTED AT ITS LOWER END TO SAID AUXILIARY FRAME TO RENDER SAID BACK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED SOLELY TO SAID SEAT FRAME FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT BETWEEN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AND REARWARDLY INCLIEND POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID SEAT FRAME, A FOOTREST, INTECONNECTED LINKAGE MEANS MOVABLY SUPPORTED SOLELY BY SAID SEAT FRAME AND CONNECTED TO SAID FOOTREST FOR MOVABLE SUPPORT THEREOF BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY BENEATH SAID SEAT FRAME TO AN EXTENDED HORIZONTAL POSITION FORWARDLY OF SAID SEAT FRAME, AND ADDITIONAL LINKAGE INTERCONNECTING SAID AUXILIARY FRAME AND LINKAGE MEANS AND OPERABLE TO POSITION SAID FOOTREST AS DESIRED INCIDENT TO PIVOTALLY MOVING SAID CHAIR BCK RELATIVE TO SAID SEAT FRAME, SAID SEAT FRAME AND CHAIR BACK AND FOOT REST SUPPORTED THEREBY BEING ROCKABLE AS A UNIT RELATIVE TO SAID BASE ABOUT THE PIVOT MEANS FOR SAID CHAIR SEAT IN ALL POSITIONS OF SAID BACK AND FOOTREST RELATIVE TO SAID SEAT FRAME.

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