US3341249A

US3341249A - Reclining chair of the multiple movement type

Info

Publication number: US3341249A
Application number: US352891A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter S Fletcher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-18
Filing date: 1964-03-18
Publication date: 1967-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-09-12
Also published as: GB1072978A; US3316015A; BR6464315D0

Description

Sept. 12, 1967 P. s. FLETCHER RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1964 4 Q M 4 a z a 4; v I Z [0 I 1, d m m a 1 z .Jw 7 -w a w; m M I 2 b y M w Dr H. 1 Z PM fl 0 W w. J M h 7. |l. Z M" .H... G w J H 1 /7yy\ 7z' l i /i 4 73 a INVENTOR.

P5712 5. FLETCHER ATrOR/Vfyj P. S. FLETCHER RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed March 18, 1964 Sept. 12, 1 967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 NVEN TOR. PTE/Q -S. FLJETCl/Ek BY g 2 2

fl znlaxs P

12, 6 P. s FLETCHER 3,341,249

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed March 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 4

FIGS.

INVENTOR. As 7.52 \5. Fzrcyg mim Sept. 12, 1967 P. s. FLETCHER RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Filed March 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. PETE/Q s, FLATCMQ Patented Sept. 12, 1967 3,341,249 RECLINING CHAR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Peter S. Fletcher, 200 NW. 15th St., Delray Beach, Fla. 33444 Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,891 5 Claims. (Cl. 297-85) The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs and specifically to a lounger-type of reclining chair which has a built-in, positive, and self-acting tendency for the seat and back-rest to assume its upright sitting pos1- tion, with the leg-rest completely collapsed, when the seat and back-rest are near that position and when the chair is either occupied or unoccupied.

One of the flaws of many of the commercially available reclining chairs is the undesirable propensity of the leg-rest of the chair to assume a less than fully collapsed position and of the body-supporting unit to assume a pos1- tion slightly rearwardly of the upright sitting position. This results in an unkempt appearance since the leg-rest hangs downwardly from its design position at or under the front of the seat of the chair.

The well-defined principle of physics that systems tend to assume a position of equilibrium with their centers of .gravity at the lowest possible point is, of course, fully applicable to the reclining chair art. Specifically, where the center of gravity of the moving elements of the reclining chair, that is, the seat and the back-rest, is at a point which is rearwardly of the point in space about which theseat and back-rest rotate at any given instance, the seat and back-rest will have no tendency to rotate forwardly about that pivot point and, therefore, will not have a tendency to assume its upright sitting position. In this case, the chair will be relatively easy to operate, but the seat and back-rest will not move to the extreme of the upright sitting position and the weight of the leg-rest and its associated links will have a tendency to cause the leg-rest to hang downwardly from its fully collapsed position. Conversely, when the center of gravity of the seat and back-rest system is forwardly of the point in space which is the center of rotation of the system, the system will tend to move forwardly and downwardly to reach the point of least energy. Normally, when the chair is in the upright position or close thereto, the center of gravity of the moving system with a chair occupant is forwardly of the center of gravity of that same system without the chair occupant. This is clear since most of the chair occupants weight is resting upon the seat rather than the backrest. Accordingly, in almost all reclining chairs, when the chair occupant gets up, the center of gravity of the seat and back-rest system moves still further rearwardly with respect to the point of rotation of the moving system thus tending to make the seat and back-rest system rotate rearwardly away from the fully closed, upright sitting position.

This tendency may be overcome by a number of corrective devices. Obviously, the provision of a tension spring to bias the seat and back-rest in a forwardly direction could be utilized. However, this expedient is undesirable since the -bias force of the spring must be overcome in order to move the seat and back-rest system from the upright sitting position into either the intermediate, tilted sitting position or the fully reclined position. A second possibility is to build a sufiicient amount of friction into the mounting linkage such that the mere weight of the unoccupied seat and back-rest is insufiicient to move that system rearwardly. This expedient too has severe disadvantages in that it adds a further force which must be overcome in order to operate the chair. Furthermore, it provides no positive means to close the chair but merely adds friction to keep the chair from opening. In addition,

there is a basic flaw in any mechanical addition to a system since the additional means provides an additional possible point of malfunction and such additions often provide adverse effects in addition to their desirable effects.

By far the most satisfactory method of solving this problem is the positioning of the center of gravity of the seat and back-rest system at a point where the natural tendency of the unoccupied chair is to assume the upright sitting position rather than the intermediate, tilted sitting position, i.e., where gravity causes the unit to fall into rather than fall out of the upright sitting position. However, this solution of the problem also has disadvantages.

Specifically, if the center of gravity is forwardly of the center of rotation of the seat and back-rest system when the chair is unoccupied, the center of gravity will automatically move still further forwardly when-the chair occupant sits on the seat. Since in the normal reclining chair there is a slight upward movement of the seat as it begins the first movement phase, the forward movement of the center of gravity will increase the difiiculty of moving the seat and back-rest out of the upright sitting position since more of the occupants weight will have to be lifted initially. Thus, although such an arrangement solves the problem of the chair moving out of the fully closed, upright position or not assuming that position when the chair occupant gets up, a new problem of hard operation is created. It is desirable in a reclining chair to provide both the features of easy operation and an inherent tendency of the chair to assume the upright sitting position with the leg-rest in its fully retracted or folded state.

Accordingly, it is generally the object of thepresent invention to provide a reclining chair of the lounger type which obviates one or more of the disadvantages existing in the prior art chair. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reclining chair of the lounger type which is both easy to operate and which inherently has a tendency to assume an upright sitting position when the chair is unoccupied.

It is further within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a reclining chair wherein the arrangement of the mounting linkage for the seat and back-rest system is such that the chair has an inherent tendency to assume the upright sitting position when that system is close to the upright sitting position.

In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a reclining chair comprising a frame and body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest mounted on the frame for movement through a first movement phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position. During the first movement phase, the included angle between the seat and the back-rest remains substantially uniform. The body-supporting unit thereafter moves through a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to a fully reclined position with the angle between the seat and back-rest increasing. Means are provided to mount the seat and back-rest on the frame for guided movement as recited. The mounting means includes ,a carrier link pivotally mounted on the frame at a carrier link pivot, a front guide link pivotally connected to the carrier link at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to the seat at a front guide link pivot and a back-rest guide link pivotally mounted at one end on the frame at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected at its opposite or upper end to the back-rest at a back-rest pivot. The seat and back-rest are pivotally connected together at a point spaced forwardly from the back-rest pivot. The front guide link and the back-rest guide link both pivot rearwardly about the front and rear pivotal mounts, respectively, during the first movement phase to transport the seat and back-rest rearwardly, substantially no change taking place in the included angl therebetween. A first holding link is pivotally connected to the body-supporting means at a point rearwardly of the front guide link pivot and forwardly of the seat-backrest pivot which holding link moves during the first movement phase to substantially maintain the angle between the seat and the back-rest. Second movement links include a bell crank lever which is pivotally connected to the carrier link at a first pivot and is connected at one of its ends to the first holding link at a second pivot. The second movement links also include a second holding link pivotally connected to the other end of the bell crank lever at a third pivot and pivotally mounted on the frame at a second movement holding pivot. The second movement links move with respect to each other and with respect to the frame during the second movement phase to open up the angle between the seat and the back-rest. Appropriate stop means are provided to define the upright sitting position and the fully reclined position. In addition, a leg-rest and leg-rest mounting linkage is provided to mount the leg-rest for movement upwardly and outwardly with respect to the seat in response to initial movement of the seat and back-rest during the first movement phase.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of one presently preferred embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away for purposes of illustration, showing one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention with the chair being depicted in the upright sitting position and with the leg-rest shown in its corresponding fully collapsed position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the chair in its intermediate, tilted sitting position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the chair in its fully reclined posiion;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away for purposes of illustration, of another preferred embodiment of the present invention with the chair being depicted in the upright sitting position and with the legrest shown in its corresponding fully collapsed position, the leg-rest in this embodiment being of the folded type;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 but showing the chair in its intermediate, tilted sitting position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the chair in its fully reclined position.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings there is shown a reclining chair, generally designated by the numeral 10, which is illustrative of the present invention. The reclining chair 10 includes a support or frame 12 having conventional arms or side rails 14, 16 which are structurally joined together by appropriate cross braces 18. A bodysupporting unit, generally designated by the numeral 20, is mounted for movement within the frame 12 and includes a seat 22 and back-rest 24 which are pivotally interconnected as will be described below. A leg-rest 26 is mounted on the chair 10 and has a movement associated with the movement of the body-supporting unit.

The seat 22 and back-rest 24 are supported within the frame 12 by an appropriate mounting linkage 28 for movement through a first movement phase from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position as illustraed in FIG. 2. During the first-movement phase the seat and back-rest translate and rotate somewhat rearwardly with the angle between the seat and back-rest remaining substantially fixed. The seat 22 and back-rest 24 may then move through a second movement phase to the fully reclined position as illustrated in FIG. 3 during which the angle between the seat and back-rest is increased to provide a position for more complete relaxation.

The leg-rest 26 is mounted on the chair 10 by means of a leg-rest mounting linkage 30. The leg-rest moves from its position beneath the forward end of the seat 22, as shown in FIG. 1, to its extended leg-supporting position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in response to movement of the seat 22 through the first movement phase. As will be seen by comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, the legrest 26 maintains its extended leg-supporting position during the second movement phase.

The mounting means 28 for the body-supporting unit 20 includes a carrier link 32 which is mounted on the frame 12 on a carrier link pivot 34 and rests on a stop 31 on the frame 12 when the seat 22 and back-rest 24 are in the upright sitting position and the intermediate, tilted sitting position. A front guide link 36 is pivotally mounted at a front pivotal mount 38 on the forward end of the carrier link 32 and is pivotally connected to the seat 22 at a front guide link pivot 40. The front guide link pivot 40 is formed on a mounting strap-22a conveniently secured along the lower edge of the seat 22. The mounting strap 22a extends rearwardly of the seat 22 through an upwardly extension 22b and terminates at a seat-backrest pivot 42, at which location the seat 22 is pivotally joined to the back-rest 24. A back-rest mounting strap 24a is conveniently secured to the back-rest 24 and the seat-back-rest pivot 42 is formed at the forward end thereof. A back-rest guide link 44 is secured at its lower end to the frame 12 at a rear pivotal mount 46 and is connected to the back-rest 24 at the rear end of the backrest strap 24a at the back-rest pivot 48.

As may be seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, the bodysupporting unit 20 is guided through the first movement phase by the rearward rotation of the front guide link 36 about the front pivotal mount 38 and the back-rest guide link 44 about the rear pivotal mount 46. A stop 50 on the seat strap 22a engages the front guide link 36 to support the weight of the chair occupant in the upright sitting position and a second stop 52, also on the seat strap 22a, engages one of the links of the leg-rest mounting linkage to halt rotation of the front guide link 36 and to define the intermediate, tilted sitting position.

The angle between the seat 22 and the back-rest 24 is maintained substantially uniform during the first movement phase by the operation of a first holding link 54. The first holding link 54 is pivotally connected to the seat 22 at a pivot point 58 spaced rearwardly of thefront guide link pivot 40. The effect of the first holding link 54 is to serve as a stop during the first movement to maintain a substantially constant angle between the seat 22 and backrest 24, as will be described below.

Second movement links are provided which include, a bell crank lever 60 and a second holding link 62. The bell crank lever 60 has the normal three pivot points and is connected at the first pivot 64 intermediate its ends to the carrier link 32. The bell crank lever 60 is pivotally connected to the first holding link 54 at a second pivot point 66 and is connected to the second movement link 62 at the third pivot point 68. The second holding link 62 is pivotally mounted on the frame 12 at the second movement holding pivot 70 which is conveniently provided on a mounting plate 70a secured to the support 12. As will be seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, the bell crank lever 60, the carrier link 32 and the second holding link 62 remain stationary during the first movement phase, thus providing a substantially fixed pivot, the second pivot 66, for the first holding link 54 during the first movement phase. Accordingly, during the first movement phase, and as the front guide link 36 and the back-rest guide link 44 pivot rearwardly, the holding link 54 similarly pivots rearwardly about the stationary second pivot 66 and provides support for the rearward portion of the seat 22 to maintain the substantially constant angular relationship between the seat 22 and the back-rest 24.

Reference may be made to my co-pending application Ser. No. 303,201 entitled Improved Reclining Chair of the Multiple Movement Type for a more generalized description of the utilization of a holding link in reclining chairs. The first holding link 54 essentially functions as a stop between the seat 22 and the back-rest 24 during the first motion phase to substantially prevent movement about the seat-back-rest pivot 42. However, in accordance with the present invention, a small initial movement is provided between the seat 22 and back-rest 24 at the beginning of the first movement phase in order to introduce a lever effect to aid the chair occupant in lifting his weight and the weight of the seat 22 at the beginning of the first movement phase. The front guide link 36 and the holding link 54 are both inclined forwardly and upwardly in the upright sitting position. Accordingly, initial movement of the seat 22 in the first movement phase has a relatively large vertical component thus requiring the chair occupant to work against the force of gravity in order to move the body-supporting means 20 out of the upright sitting position. The ease of this operation in the chair is enhanced by the utilization of the relatively long lever arm constituted by the back-rest 24. Specifically, the backrest 24 may be considered as a lever pivoted about the back-rest pivot 48 serving as a fulcrum, upward force being applied to the seat 22 at the seat-back-rest pivot 42. Due to the paths of motion of the front guide link 36 and the holding link 54 (which define the path of movement of the seat 22) and the path of movement of the backrest link 44 (which in combination with the movement of the seat 22 defines the path of movement of the back-rest 24), there is a small initial change in the angular relationship between the seat 22 and the back-rest 24 at the beginning of the first movement phase. Although this change is relatively small, it is sufiicient to enable the chair occupant to utilize the back-rest 24 as a lever to lift the seat 22 and his own weight upwardly to overcome the gravitational force on the moving system of the seat 22, the back-rest 24 and the chair occupant, which force tends to keep the body-supporting unit 20 in the upright sitting position. Of course, as soon as the initial movement out of the upright sitting position has been accomplished, the path of movement of the seat 22 is substantially rearwardly such that no further leverage action by the back-rest 24 is necessary. Accordingly, the angle between the seat and back-rest may be thereafter maintained or, if desirable, may be returned to its initial angle. As may be appreciated from studying the drawings of the chair 10, only a very slight initial change of angle is necessary in order to provide the advantageous function described above.

The leg-rest linkage 30 is actuated during the first movement phase to move from the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1 to the extended, leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 2. The leg-rest linkage 30 is driven from a downward extension 72 of the first holding link 54 which rotates forwardly about the second pivot 66 during the first movement phase. This forward movement is translated through the pivot 73 to a connecting link 74 to drive the linkage 30. The linkage 30 includes a first link 76 which is pivotally connected to the seat 22 at the front guide link pivot 40 and is pivoted intermediate its ends, at pivot 78, to the connecting link 74. At its forward end, the first link 76 is connected to a second link 80 at the pivotal connection 82 which link, in turn, is connected to the leg-rest 26 at the first leg-rest pivot 84. The forward end of the connecting link 74 is connected to a third leg-rest link 86 at pivot 88. The link 86 is connected at its other ends to the fourth leg-rest link 90- at pivot 92 which link is also connected to the leg-rest 26 at the second leg-rest pivot 94. The

links

80 and 86 are pivotally interconnected at their cross over point 96. As may be seen in the drawings, a raised stop 98 is provided on the link 86 to positively define the collapsed position of the leg-rest position 26 (see FIG. 1). The stop 52 engages the link 76 at the end of the first movement phase to define the intermediate, tilted sitting position and halt further extension of the leg-rest linkage 30. The leg-rest linkage 30 provides a slightly rising path of movement to the leg-rest 26 as it initially moves outwardly from its collapsed position. Accordingly, once the leg-rest 26 has approached its fully collapsed position as shown in FIG. 1, it has a natural tendency to fall into and assume its fully collapsed position. The path of movement of the leg-rest 26 has been indicated approximately by the dotted line in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Accordingly, the leg-rest mounting linkage 30 cooperates with the linkage 28 to insure that the elements of the chair 10 assume the fully collapsed, upright position when the chair occupant gets up.

Movement of the body-supporting unit 20 from the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 3 is instituted by the application of rearward pressure on the back-rest 24 by the chair occupant. In response to such movement, the carrier link 32 pivots upwardly from the stop 31 about the carrier link pivot 34 raising the front guide link 36 and the front of the seat 22. As the carrier link 32 rotates upwardly, the bell crank lever 60 of the second movement links is translated upwardly at its intermediate pivot 64. The third pivot 68 of the bell crank lever 60 is held downward by the second holding link 62 such that there is a controlled upward movement of the opposite end of the lever 60 at the second pivot 66 which is connected to the first holding link 54. Accordingly, the first holding link 54 is raised upwardly during the second movement phase such that the position of the seat 22 in the fully reclined position is defined by its connections to the front guide link 36 and the first holding link 54. Movement of the seat 22 during the second movement phase may be viewed as being controlled by a four-bar linkage having the support 12 between the

pivots

34 and 70 as the stationary link. The second holding link 62, the bell crank lever 60 and the carrier link 32 are the movable links of the four-bar linkage. The seat 22 is directly attached to this four-bar linkage since the front guide link 36 is more or less stationary relative to the seat 22 and the first holding link 54 is blocked relative to the seat 22 by the action of stop 52 on leg-rest link 76 during the second movement phase. The effective connection of the seat 22 to the four-bar linkage is at extensions of the two

movable links

32 and 60 at the front pivotal mount 38 and the second bell crank pivot 66 respectively.

The position of the seat 22, through the pivotal connection 42 of the seat 22 to the back-rest 24, controls the position of the back-rest as supported by the back-rest guide link 44. As may be appreciated by inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3, the back-rest link 44 remains more or less stationary during the second movement phase. This is accomplished by the use of the second holding link 62 which has the effect of a stop supporting link 44 in a stationary position. The second holding link 62, by controlling the seat movement in such a way that the seat-backrest pivot 42 moves in an are about a fixed point in the vicinity of pivot 48 on the back-rest when the chair is in the intermediate, tilted sitting position, holds the backrest link 44 in much the same manner as a stop engaging its rear surface. As will be best appreciated by comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, the angle between the seat 22 and backrest 24 varies from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to the fully reclined position and specifically, that angle increases to provide a more relaxed position for the chair occupant.

The termination of the second movement phase is defined by a lost motion stop and sequencing mechanism generally designated by the numeral 100 and specifically by pin 102 as it engages the upper end of a slot 104 in link 107. The pin 102 is mounted on the end of extension 106 of the front guide link 36 and the slot 104 is formed in the lost motion link 107 which is pivotally mounted on the support at the pivot 108. The pivot 108 is effectively coaxial with the front pivotal mount 38 on the carrier member 32 when the carrier member 32 is in either the upright sitting position or the intermediate, tilted sitting position. In each of these positions, as will be seen from inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2 the pin 102 is in the inner end of the slot, i.e., the end closest the pivot 108. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the lost motion mechanism 100 serves as an automatic sequencing means in addition to its stop functions. Specifically, the reception of the pin 102 in the slot 104, and the angular orientation of the lost motion link 107 with respect to the path of travel of the carrier link 32, makes it impossible for the carrier link 32 to pivot upwardly about the carrier link pivot 34 until the intermediate, tilted sitting position has been achieved. Accordingly, the raising of the carrier link 32 and the start of the second movement phase cannot be accomplished until the intermediate, tilted sitting position has been reached.

A further stop 109 is provided on the frame 12, and specifically on the mounting plate 70a, and is positioned to engage the second holding link 62 at the end of the second movement phase (see dotted line configuration of FIG. 3). This provides further positive stop means to define the fully reclined position of the body-supporting unit 20 and also prevents

links

62 and 60 from going past dead center.

The foregoing description of the reclining chair will be more fully understood by considering the following description of a typical sequence of operation:

With the chair 10 in the position shown in FIG. 1, and specifically with the seat 22 and back-rest 24 in the upright sitting position, the chair occupant presses rearwardly on the back-rest 24 to initiate movement to the first movement phase. Due to the mechanical advantage of the relatively long lever arm of the back-rest 24 about the back-rest pivot 48 as a fulcrum and the seat-back-rest pivot 42 as the point of application of pressure, the seat 22 and back-rest 24 are moved slightly upwardly and rearwardly through a tilting motion with the front guide link 36 and the back-rest guide link 44 rotating rearwardly about the respective front and rear

pivotal mounts

38, 46. The relative position of the back-rest 24 with respect to the seat 22 during the first movement phase is governed by the first holding link 54 which pivots rearwardly about the second pivot 66 of the bell crank lever 60. As the body-supporting unit is moved from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2, the downward extension 72 of the first holding link 54 is effective through the pivot 73 to the connecting link 74, to extend the leg-rest linkage and to move the leg-rest 26 from its collapsed position below the seat 22 to its extended, leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat 22.

Upon further rearward pressure on the back-rest 24 by the chair occupant, movement of the body-supporting unit 20 through the second movement phase is initiated. The carrier link 32 pivots upwardly about the carrier link pivot 34 to raise and further tilt the seat 22. As the carrier link 32 is rotated upwardly, the second movement links 60 and 62 begin operation to guide the rearward end of the seat 22 and the seat-back-rest pivot 42 along an appropriate path such that the back-rest 24, supported by the back-rest guide link 44, assumes a position such that the angle between the seat 22 and the back-rest 24 is substantially increased as compared with the intermediate, tilted sitting position. Upon abutment of the pin 102 with the end of the lost motion slot 104, and upon engagement of the second holding link 62 with the stop 109, the second movement phase is terminated and the fully reclined position is established.

In order to collapse the chair 10 from the fully reclined position of FIG. 3 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 and subsequently to the upright sitting position of FIG. 1, the occupant merely moves his Weight forwardly in reverse procedure to that recited above.

It will be appreciated that the reclining chair 10 according to the present invention provides a structure wherein the center of gravity of the moving body-supporting unit 20, when it is adjacent the upright sitting position, i forwardly of the point in space about which that moving system rotates. Accordingly, there is a natural tendency for the unoccupied chair to assume its upright sitting position. Specifically, there is a tendency, under the force of gravity, for the seat 22 and back-rest 24 to fall downwardly into the upright sitting position with the front guide link 36 and the holding link 54 rotating forwardly and downwardly under the influence of gravity. Furthermore, the leg-rest linkage 30 provided in association with the chair 10 is such that the leg-rest 26 also demonstrates a tendency to fall into its completely collapsed position. Furthermore, due to the mechanical advantage which is achieved by the relatively long lever arm of the back-rest 24 about the back-rest pivot 48 and the arrangement of the point application of the lever force at the seat-back-rest pivot 42, it is relatively easy for a chair occupant to overcome the gravity forces to institute movement of the seat and back-rest unit 20 out of the upright sitting position and through the first and second movement phases.

Now referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention, constituting a reclining chair generally designated by the numeral 110, which is similar to the chair 10 described above. The reclining chair includes a support or frame 112 having conventional arms or

side rails

114, 116 which are structurally joined together by appropriate cross braces 118. The frame 112 is supported above the ground by conventional legs 119 and the chair itself is of the type designated in the trade as a high-leg chair. A body-supporting unit 120 is mounted for movement within the frame 112 and includes the seat 122 and back-rest 124 which are pivotally interconnected as will be described below. A legrest 126, including its associated folded extension 126a, is mounted on the chair 110 and has a movement associated with the movement of the body-supporting unit 120.

The seat 122 and back-rest 124 are supported within the frame 112 by an appropriate mounting linkage 128 for movement through a first movement phase from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the intermediate, tilted itting position as illustrated in FIG. 5. During the first-movement phase the seat and back-rest translate and rotate somewhat rearwardly with the angle between the seat and back-rest remaining substantially fixed. The seat 122 and back-rest 124 may then move through a second movement phase to the fully reclined position as illustrated in FIG. 6 during which the angle between the seat an back-rest i increased to provide a position for more complete relaxation.

The leg-rest 126 and its extension 126a are mounted on the chair 110 by means of a leg-rest mounting linkage 130. The leg-rest moves from its position beneath the forward end of the seat 122, as shown in FIG. 4, to its extended, leg-supporting position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in response to movement of the seat 122 through the first movement phase. As will be seen by comparing FIGS. 5 and 6, the leg-rest 126 maintains its extended, leg-supporting position during the second movement phase.

The mounting means 128 for the body-supporting unit 120 includes a carrier link 132 which is mounted on the frame 112 on a carrier link pivot 134 and rests on a stop 131 on the frame 112 when the seat 122 and back-rest 124 are in the upright sitting position and the intermediate, tilting sitting position. A front guide link 136 is pivotally mounted at a front pivotal mount 138 on the forward end of the carrier link 132 and is pivotally connected to the seat 122 at a front guide link pivot 140.

The front guide link pivot 140 is formed on a mounting strap 122a conveniently secured to the seat along the lower inside part of the seat frame. The seat 122 is pivotally connected to the back-rest 124 at a seat-back-rest pivot 142. A bracket 123 is rigidly secured to the outside of the seat 122 and a back-rest mounting strap 124a is conveniently secured to the back-rest 124 and the seatback-rest pivot 142 is formed between the upper end of the bracket 123 and the forward end of the strap 124a. A back-rest guide link 144 is secured at its lower end .to the frame 112 at a rear pivotal mount 146 and is connected to the back-rest 124 at the rear end of the back-rest strap 124a at the back-rest pivot 148. The back-rest guide link 144 is curved as shown in FIGS. .5 and 6 to avoid the rear cross brace 118 during the first and second movement phases.

As may be seen by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5, the bodysupporting unit 120 is guided through the first movement phase by the rearward rotation of the front guide link 136 about the front pivotal mount 138 and the back-rest guide link 144 about the rear pivotal mount 146. A stop 150 on the seat strap 122a engages the front guide link 136 to support the weight of the chair occupant in the upright sitting position and a second stop 152, also on the seat strap 122a, engages the first holding link 154, described below, to halt the first movement phase and to define the intermediate, tilted sitting position.

The angle between the seat 122 and the back-rest 124 is maintained substantially uniform during the first movement phase by the operation of a first holding link 154. The first holding link 154 is pivotally connected to the seat 122 at a pivot point 158 spaced rearwardly of the front guide link pivot 140. The effect of the first holding link 154 is to serve as a stop during the first movement phase to maintain a substantially constant angle between the seat 122 and back-rest 124, as will be described below.

Second movement links are provided which include, a bell crank lever 160 and a second holding link 162. The bell crank lever 160 has the normal three pivot points and is connected at the first pivot point 164 intermediate its ends to the carrier link 132. The bell-crank lever 160 is pivotally connected to the first holding link 154 at a second pivot point 166 and is connected to the second movement link 162 at the third pivot point 168. The second holding link 162 is pivotally mounted on the frame 112 at the second movement holding pivot 170 which is conveniently provided on a mounting plate 17a secured to the support 112. As will be seen by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5, the bell-crank lever 160, the carrier link 132, and the second holding link 162 remain stationary during the first movement phase, thus providing a substantially fixed pivot, the second pivot 166, for the first holding link 154 during the first movement phase. Accordingly, during the first movement phase and as the front guide link 136 and the back-rest guide link 144 pivot rearwardly, the holding link 154 similarly pivots rearwardly about the stationary second pivot 166 and provides support for the rearward portion of the seat 122 to maintain the substantially constant angular relationship between the seat 122 and backrest 124. The first holding link 154 essentially functions as a stop between the seat 122 and the back-rest 124 during the first motion phase to substantially prevent movement about the seat-back-rest pivot 142. However, in accordance with the present invention, a small initial movement is provided between the seat 122 and the back-rest 124 at the beginning of the first movement phase in order to introduce a lever effect to aid the chair occupant in lifting his weight and the weight of the seat 122 at the beginning of the first movement phase. The front guide link 136 and the holding link 154 are both inclined forwardly and upwardly in the upright sitting position. Accordingly, initial movement of the seat 122 in the first movement phase has a relatively large vertical component thus requiring the chair occupant to work against the force of gravity in order to move the body-supporting means out of the upright sitting position. The ease of this operation in the chair 10 is enhanced by the utilization of the relatively long lever arm constituted by the back-rest 124. Specifically, the back-rest 124 may be considered as a lever pivoted about the back-rest pivot 148 serving as a fulcrum, upward force being applied to the seat 122 at the seat-back-rest pivot 142. Due to the paths of motion of the front guide link 136 and the holding link 154 (which define the path of movement of the seat 122) and the path of movement of the back-rest link 144 (which in combination with the movement of the seat 122 defines the path of movement of the back-rest 124), there is a small initial change in the angular relationship between the seat 122 and the back-rest 124 at the beginning of the first movement phase. Although this change is relatively small, it is sufficient to enable the chair occupant to utilize the back-rest 124 as a lever to lift the seat 122 and his own Weight upwardly to overcome the gravitational force of the moving system of the seat 122, the back-rest 124 and the chair occupant with force tends to keep the bodysuporting unit 120 in the upright sitting position. Of course, as soon as the initial movement out of the upright sitting position has been accomplished, the path of movement of the seat 122 is no longer upwardly so that no further leverage action by the back-rest 124 is necessary. Accordingly, the angle between the seat and back-rest may be thereafter maintained, or, if desirable, may be returned to its initial angle. As may be appreciated from studying the drawings of the chair 110, only a very slight initial change of angle is necessary in order to provide the advantageous function described above.

The leg-rest linkage is actuated during the first movement phase to move from the collapsed position shown in FIG. 3 to the extended, leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 4. The leg-rest linkage 130 is driven from a downward extension 172 of the first holding link 154 which rotates forwardly about the second pivot 166 during the first movement phase. This forward movement is translated through the pivot 173 to a connecting link 174 to drive the linkage 130. The linkage 130 includes a first link 176 which is pivotally connected to the seat 122 at the pivot 177 and is pivoted intermediate its ends, at pivot 178, to the connecting link 174. At its forward end, the first link 176 is connected to a second link 180 at the intermediate pivotal connection 182 which in turn is connected to the leg-rest 126 at the first leg-rest pivot 184. The third leg-rest link 186 is connected to the second link 180 at pivot 188 and is pivotally connected to the seat 122 at pivot point 189 on the strap 122a spaced rearwardly from pivot 177. The link 176 is connected intermediate its ends to the fourth leg-rest link 190 at pivot 192 which link is also connected to the leg-rest 126 at the second leg-rest pivot 194. An extension 196 of link 190 drives the leg-rest extension 126a through the connecting link 197 and its

pivots

198, 199 with the leg-rest extension 126a being mounted on the leg-rest 126 at pivot 184 to operate in the manner well known in the art for folding leg-rests. A stop 186a is mounted on the strap 122a and provides a positive stop for the leg-rest mounting linkage 130 in the up-right sitting position. The legrest linkage 130 provides a slight rise in the path of movement to the leg-rest 126 as it moves outwardly from its collapsed position. Accordingly, once the leg-rest 126 has approached its fully collapsed position as shown in FIG. 4, it has a natural tendency to fall into and assume its fully collapsed position. The path of movement of the leg-rest 126 is generally similar to the dotted line path shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Accordingly, the legrest mounting linkage 130 cooperates with the linkage 128 to insure that the elements of the chair 110 assume the fully collapsed, upright sitting position when the chair occupants gets up.

Movement of the body-supporting unit 120 from the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. to the fully reclined position of FIG. 6 is instituted by the application of rearward pressure on the back-rest 124 by the chair occupant. In response to such movement, the carrier link 132 pivots upwardly from the stop 131 about the carrier link 134 raising the front guide link 136 and the front of the seat 122. As the carrier link 132 rotates upwardly, the bell crank lever 160 of the second movement links is translated upwardly at its intermediate pivot 164. The third pivot 168 of the bell crank lever 160 is held downward by the second holding link 162 such that there is a controlled upward movement of the opposite end of the lever 160 at the second pivot 166 which is connected to the first holding link 154. Accordingly, the first holding link 154 is raised upwardly during the second movement phase such that the position of the seat 122 in the fully reclined position is defined by its connections to the front guide link 136 and the first holding link 154. Movement of the seat 122 during the second movement phase may be viewed as being controlled by a four-bar linkage having the support 112 between the

pivots

134 and 170 as the stationary link. The second holding link 162, the bell crank lever 160 and the carrier link 132 are the mova-ble links of the four-bar linkage. The seat 122 is directly attached to this four-bar linkage since the front guide link 136 is more or less stationary relative to the seat 122 and the first holding link 154 is rigid with the seat 122 during the second movement phase. The connection of the seat 122 to the four-bar linkage is at extensions of the two movable links 132 and 160 at the first pivotal mount 138 and the second bell crank pivot 166 respectively.

The position of the seat 122, through the pivotal connection 142 of the seat 122 to the back-seat 124, similarly controls the position of the back-rest as supported by the back-rest guide link 144. As may be appreciated by inspecting FIGS. 5 and 6, the back-rest link 144 remains more or less stationary during the second movement. This is accomplished by the use of the second holding link 162 which has the effect of a stop supporting link 144 in a stationary position. The second holding link 162, by controlling the seat movement in such a way that the seat-back-rest pivot 142 moves in an are about a fixed point in the vicinity of pivot 148 on the back-rest when the chair is in the intermediate tilted sitting position, holds the back-rest link 144 in much the same manner as a stop engaging its rear surface. As will be best appreciated by comparing FIGS. 5 and 6, the angle between the seat 122 and back-rest 124 varies from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to the fully reclined position and specifically, that angle increases to provide a more relaxed position for the chair occupant.

The termination of the second movement phase is defined by a stop 200 which is provided on the frame 112, and specifically on the mounting plate 170a, and is positioned to engage the second holding link 162 at the end of the second movement phase (see dotted line configuration of FIG. 6). This provides positive stop means to define the fully reclined position of the body-supporting unit 120 and also prevents links 162 and 160 from going past dead center. A sequencing stop 201 is mounted on the support 112 adjacent the carrier link pivot 134 and is positioned to engage an extension of member 172 thereby providing positive blocking means preventing movement in the second movement phase until the first movement phase has been initiated and the link 154-172 has rotated out of blocking engagement with the sequencing pin 201.

The foregoing description of the reclining chair 110 will be more fully understood by considering the following description of a typical sequence of operation:

With the chair 110 in the position shown in FIG. 4, and specifically with the seat 122 and back-rest 124 in the upright sitting position, the chair occupant presses rearwardly on the back-rest 124 to initiate movement to the first movement phase. Due to the mechanical advantage of the relatively long lever arm of the back-rest 124 about the back-rest pivot 148 as a fulcrum and the seatback-rest pivot 142 as the point of application of pressure, the seat 122 and back-rest 124 are moved upwardly initially and then rearwardly through a tilting motion with the front guide link 136 and the back-rest guide link 144 rotating rearwardly about the respectively front and rear

pivotal mounts

138, 144. The relative position of the back-rest 124 with respect to the seat during the first movement phase is governed by the first holding link 154 which pivots rearwardly about the second pivot 166 of the bell crank lever 160. As the body-supporting unit is moved from the upright sitting position of FIG. 4 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 5, the downward extension 172 of the first holding link 154 is effective, through the pivot 173 to the connecting link 174, to extend the leg-rest linkage and to move the leg-rest 126 from its collapsed position below the seat 122 to its extended, leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat 122.

Upon further rearward pressure on the back-rest 124 by the chair occupant, movement of the body-supporting unit 120 through the second movement phase is initiated. The carrier link 132 pivots upwardly about the carrier link pivot to raise and further tilt the seat 122. As the carrier link 132 is rotated upwardly, the second movement links and 162 begin operation to guide the rearward end of the seat 122 and the seat-back-rest pivot 142 along an appropriate path such that the back-rest 124, supported by the back-rest guide link 144, assumes a position such that the angle between the seat 122 and the back-rest 124 is substantially increased as compared with the intermediate, tilted'sitting position. Upon abutment engagement of the second holding link 162 with the stop 200, the second movement phase is terminated and the fully reclined position is established.

In order to collapse the chair 110 from the fully reclmed position of FIG. 6 to the intermediate, tilted sitt ng position of FIG. 5 and subsequently to the upright sitting position of FIG. 4, the occupant merely moves his weight forwardly in reverse procedure to that recited above.

It will be appreciated that the reclining chair 110 according to the present invention provides a structure wherein the center of gravity of the moving body-supporting unit 120, when it is adjacent the upright sitting position, is forwardly of the point in space about which that moving system rotates. Accordingly, there is a natural tendency for the unoccupied chair to assume its upright sitting position. Specifically, there is a tendency, under the force of gravity, for the seat 122 and back-rest 124 to fall downwardly into the upright sitting position with the front guide link 1365 and the holding link 154 rotating forwardly and downwardly under the influence of gravity. Furthermore, the leg-rest linkage 130 provided in association with the chair 110 is such that the leg-rest 126 also demonstrates a tendency to fall into its completely collapsed position. Furthermore, due to the mechanical advantage which is achieved by the relatively long lever arm of the back-rest 124 about the back-rest pivot 148 and the arrangement of the point application of the lever force at the seat-back-rest pivot 142, it is relatively easy for a chair occupant to overcome the gravity forces and to institute movement of the seat and back-rest unit 120 out of the upright sitting position and through the first and second movement phases.

It should be noted that in both embodiments the action of the first holding link is such that it not only contributes to the upward movement of the seat initially and the consequent tendency of the chair to stay closed, i.e., in the upright sitting position, but it also produces the desiredinitial tilting of the back-rest which provides the lever effect used by the occupant to overcome the aforesaid tendency of the chair to stay closed. Thus, the arrangement of the holding link produces both of the de- 13 sired results, results which appear at first to be the antithesis of each other, i.e., the tendency of the-body-supporting unit to always move into the closed position and ease of chair occupant to move the body-supporting unit out of the closed position.

Likewise, it should be noted that the arrangement of the leg-rest mounting linkages in each of the two embodiments produces the tendency of the leg-rests to assume their retracted positions. It will be seen in FIG. 1 that the leg-rest link 76 is lifted by the seat as the link 76 swings forwardly. At the same time the first holding link 54 swings in such a manner that pivot 73 at the lower end of extension 72 swings downwardly and forwardly initially. Thus, the connecting link 74 acts to lift the legrest as the latter swings forwardly.

In a similar manner the leg-

rest link

176 and 186 of chair 110 in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 act to guide link 180 in such a manner that the leg-rest 126 is moved upwardly initially as it is actuated. Because

pivots

188 and 189 on link 186 are more or less in line with pivot 177 between link 176 and the seat strap 122a, pivot 188 (which is also on link 180) moves downward faster than the middle pivot 182 on link 180. Thus, the front pivot 184 on link 180 is lifted slightly to produce the desired elfect on the leg-rest 126 during its initial movement out of its retracted position.

Although only two embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described above and illustrated in the drawings, numbers of design changes may be made which do not depart from the basic teachings of the present invention. Therefore, the following claims should be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the teachings of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A reclining chair comprising a frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and a back-rest mounted on said frame for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase, at the beginning of which the angle between the seat and back-rest initially increases, to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, the angle between said seat and back-rest being substantially the same in the upright sitting position and in the intermediate, tilted sitting position, and for subsequent movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a fully reclined position with the angle between said seat and back-rest substantially increasing, a leg-rest mounted for movement from a stored position beneath the forward portion of said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting unit in said first movement phase with said leg-rest having an initial upward component of movement, means mounting said seat and back-rest on said frame comprising a carrier link pivotally mounted on said frame at a carrier link pivot, a front guide link pivotally connected to said carrier link at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a front guide link pivot, said seat pivotally connected to said back-rest at a seat-back-rest pivot, a back-rest guide link pivotally mounted at one end on said frame at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected at its opposite end .to said back-rest at a back-rest pivot spaced rearwardly from said seat-back-rest pivot, said front guide link and said back-rest guide link pivoting rearwardly about said front and rear pivotal mounts respectively during said first movement phase, a first holding link pivotally connected to said seat at a point rearwardly of said front guide link pivot, and second movement links connecting said first holding link to said frame, said first holding link moving with respect to said second movement links during said first movement phase and moving with said front guide link for initially increasing the angle between said seat and said back-rest during an initial portion of said first movement phase and for maintaining said angle in the intermediate, tilted sitting position substantially the same as it is in the upright sitting position, said socond movement links including a bell-crank lever pivotally connected to said carrier link at a first pivot and pivotally connected to said first holding link at a second pivot and a second holding link pivotally connected at one end to said bell-crank lever at a third pivot and pivotally mounted on said frame at a second movement holding pivot, said bell-crank lever pivoting with respect to said carrier link during said second movement phase for raising said first holding link and substantially opening the angle between said seat and back-rest during said second movement phase, stop means defining the upright sitting position and the fully reclined position of said seat and back-rest, and a leg-rest mounting linkage mounting said leg-rest for movement having an initial upward component of motion from said stored position to said elevated, leg-supporting position in response to initial movement of said seat and back-rest during said first movement phase.

2. A reclining chair comprising a frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and a back-rest mounted on said frame for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase, at the beginning of which the angle between the seat and back-rest initially increases, to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, the angle between said seat and back-rest being substantially the same in the upright sitting position and in the intermediate, tilted sitting position, and for subsequent movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a fully reclined position with the angle between said seat and back-rest substantially increasing, a leg-rest mounted for movement from a stored position beneath the forward portion of said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting unit in said first movement phase with said leg-rest having an initial upward component of movement, means mounting said seat and back-rest on said frame comprising a carrier link pivotally mounted on said frame at a carrier link pivot, a front guide link pivotally connected to said carrier link at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a front guide link pivot, said seat pivotally connected to said back-rest at a seat-back-rest pivot, a back-rest guide link pivotally mounted at one end on said frame at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected at its opposite end to said back-rest pivot spaced rearwardly from said seatback-rest pivot, said front guide link and said back-rest guide link pivoting rearwardly about said front and rear pivotal mounts respectively during said first movement phase, a first holding link pivotally connected to said seat at a point rearwardly of said front guide link pivot and forwardly of said seat-back-rest pivot, and second movement links connecting said first holding link to said frame, said first holding link moving with respect to said second movement links during said first movement phase for initially increasing the angle between said seat and said back-rest during an intial portion thereof and for thereafter substantially maintaining said angle, said second movement links including a bell-crank lever pivotally connected to said carrier link at a first pivot and pivotally connected to said first holding link at a second pivot, and a second holding link pivotally connected at one end to said bell-crank lever at a third pivot and pivotally mounted on said frame at a second movement holding pivot, said second movement links moving with respect to said frame and each other during said second movement phase for substantially opening the angle between said seat and back-rest, stop means defining the upright sitting position and the fully reclined position of said seat and back-rest, and a leg-rest mounting linkage mounting said leg-rest for initial movement initially upwardly and outwardly of said seat from said stored position to said elevated leg-supporting position in response to initial movement of said seat and back-rest during said first movement phase.

3. A reclining chair comprising a frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and a back-rest mounted on said frame for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase, at the beginning of which the angle between the seat and back-rest initially increases, to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, the angle between said seat and back-rest being substantially the same in the upright sitting position and in the intermediate, tilted sitting position, and for subsequent movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a fully reclined position with the angle between said seat and back-rest substantially increasing, a leg-rest mounted for movement from a stored position beneath the forward portion of said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting unit in said first movement phase with said leg-rest having an initial upward component of movement, means mounting said seat and back-rest on said frame comprising a carrier link pivotally mounted on said frame at a carrier link pivot, a front guide link pivotally connected to said carrier link at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a front guide link pivot, said seat pivotally connected to said back-rest at a seat-back-rest pivot, a back-rest guide link pivotally mounted at one end on said frame at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected at its opposite end to said back-rest pivot spaced rearwardly from said seat-back-rest pivot, said front guide link and said back-rest guide link pivoting rearwardly about said front and rear pivotal mounts respectively during said first movement phase, a first holding link pivotally connected to said seat at a point rearwardly of said front guide link pivot, and second movement links connecting said first holding link to said frame, said first holding link moving with respect to said second movement links during said first movement phase for initially increasing the angle between said seat and said back-rest during an initial portion thereof and for thereafter maintaining said angle in the intermediate, tilted sitting position substantially the same as it is in the upright sitting position, said second movement links including a bell-crank lever pivotally connected to said carrier link and pivotally connected to said first holding link, and a second holding link pivotally connected to said bellcrank lever and to said frame, said second movement links moving during said second movement phase for opening the angle between said seat and back-rest during said second movement phase, and a leg-rest mounting linkage mounting said leg-rest for movement initially upwardly and outwardly of said seat from said stored position to said leg-supporting position in response to initial movement of said seat and back-rest during said first movement phase.

4. A reclining chair comprising a frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and a back-rest mounted on same frame for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase, at the beginning of which the angle between the seat and back-rest initially increases, to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, the angle between said said seat and back-rest being substantially the same in the intermediate, tilted sitting position as in the upright sitting position, and for subsequent movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a fully reclined position with the angle between said seat and back-rest substantially increasing, a leg-rest mounted for movement from a stored position beneath the forward portion of said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting unit in said first movement phase with said leg-rest having an initial upward component of movement, means mounting said seat and back-rest on said frame including a carrier link pivotally mounted on said frame at a carrier link pivot, a front guide link pivotally connected to said carrier link at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a front guide link pivot, a back-rest guide link pivotally mounted at one end on said frame at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected at its opposite end to said back-rest at a back-rest pivot spaced rearwardly from said seat-back-rest pivot, said front guide link pivoting during said first movement phase about said front pivotal mount which remains stationary during said first movement phase, said back-rest guide link pivoting during said first movement phase about said rear pivotal mount, means controlling said seat and back-rest to raise the seat at the rear thereof at the initial part of said first movement phase, said controlling means normally urging said body-supporting unit into said upright sitting position, said means being arranged to tilt said back-rest slightly relative to said seat as said body-supporting unit is moved initially out of said upright sitting position to provide leverage to overcome said initial tendency of said bodysupporting unit to stay in said upright sitting position, said control means including a first holding link pivotally connected to the rear of said seat and operatively connected to said carrier link, leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest and to said body-supporting means for moving said leg-rest from said stored position beneath the front of said seat to said elevated leg-supporting position in response to said first movement phase and maintaining said leg-rest in said position during said second movement phase, said leg-rest control means moving said leg-rest upwardly and outwardly in its initial movement from said stored position, the weight of said leg-rest normally urging said leg-rest into said stored position during said initial movement.

5. A reclining chair comprising a frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and a back-rest mounted on same frame for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase, at the beginning of which the angle between the seat and back-rest initially increases, to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, the angle between said seat and back-rest being substantially the same in the intermediate, tilted sitting position as in the upright sitting position, and for subsequent movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a fully reclined position with the angle between said seat and back-rest substantially increasing, a leg-rest mounted for movement from a stored position beneath the forward portion of said seat to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting unit in said first movement phase with said leg-rest having an initial upward component of movement, means mounting said seat and back-rest on said frame including a carrier link pivotally mounted on said frame at a carrier link pivot, a front guide link pivotally connected to said carrier link at a front pivotal mount and pivotally connected to said seat at a front guide link pivot, a back-rest guide link pivotally mounted at one end on said frame at a rear pivotal mount and pivotally connected at its opposite end to said back-rest at a back-rest pivot spaced rearwardly from said seat-backrest pivot, said front guide link pivoting during said first movement phase about said front pivotal mount which remains stationary during said first movement phase, said back-rest guide link pivoting during said first movement phase about said rear pivotal mount, means controlling said seat and back-rest to raise the seat at the rear thereof at the initial part of said first movement phase, said controlling means normally urging said body-supporting unit into said upright sitting position, said means being arranged to tilt said back-rest slightly relative to said seat as said body-supporting unit is moved intially out of said upright sitting position to provide leverage to overcome said initial tendency of said body-supporting unit to stay in said upright sitting position, said control means including a first holding link pivotally connected to the rear of said seat and operatively connected to said carrier link, and leg-rest control means operatively connected to said leg-rest and to said body-supporting means for moving said leg rest initially upwardly and outwardly from said SEQIQQ P S fiQI beneath the front of said seat tosaid 17 18 elevated leg-supporting position in response to said first 3,096,119 7/1963 Fletcher 297-85 movement phase and maintaining said leg-rest in said 3,115,363 12/1963 Schliephacke 297-89 position during said second movement phase. 3,137,521 6/1964 Re 297-322 X 3,162,482 12/ 1964 Katz 297-85 References Cited 5 FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,144 3/1962 Great Britain.

3,039,815 6/1962 Fletcher 297, 322 X 3,043,221 7/1962 Fletcher 29785 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. 3,044, 2 7 1962 Be isle 297-316 X 3,056,629 10/1962 Fletcher 297-316 10 FRANK SHERRY Examme" 3,069,201 12/ 1962 Belisie et a1 297-316 X J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A FRAME, A BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT INCLUDING A SEAT AND A BACK-REST MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT FROM AN UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION THROUGH A FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE, AT THE BEGINNING OF WHICH THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE SEAT AND BACK-REST INITIALLY INCREASES, TO AN INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION, THE ANGLE BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME IN THE UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION AND IN THE INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION, AND FOR SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENT FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION THROUGH A SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE TO A FULLY RECLINED POSITION WITH THE ANGLE BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING, A LEG-REST MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT FROM A STORED POSITION BENEATH THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID SEAT TO AN ELEVATED LEG-SUPPORTING POSITION IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY-SUPPORTING UNIT IN SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE WITH SAID LEG-REST HAVING AN INITIAL UPWARD COMPONENT OF MOVEMENT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST ON SAID FRAME COMPRISING A CARRIER LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AT A CARRIER LINK PIVOT, A FRONT GUIDE LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER LINK AT A FRONT PIVOTAL MOUNT AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SEAT AT A FRONT GUIDE LINK PIVOT, SAID SEAT PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BACK-REST AT A SEAT-BACK-REST PIVOT, A BACK-REST GUIDE LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END ON SAID FRAME AT A REAR PIVOTAL MOUNT AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE END TO SAID BACK-REST AT A BACK-REST PIVOT SPACED REARWARDLY FROM SAID SEAT-BACK-REST PIVOT, SAID FRONT GUIDE LINK AND SAID BACK-REST GUIDE LINK PIVOTING REARWARDLY ABOUT SAID FRONT AND REAR PIVOTAL MOUNTS RESPECTIVELY DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE, A FIRST HOLDING LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SEAT AT A POINT REARWARDLY OF SAID FRONT GUIDE LINK PIVOT, AND SECOND MOVEMENT LINKS CONNECTING SAID FIRST HOLDING LINK TO SAID FRAME, SAID FIRST HOLDING LINK MOVING WITH RESPECT TO SAID SECOND MOVEMENT LINKS DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE AND MOVING WITH SAID FRONT GUIDE LINK FOR INITIALLY INCREASING THE ANGLE BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND SAID BACK-REST DURING AN INITIAL PORTION OF SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE AND FOR MAINTAINING SAID ANGLE IN THE INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS IT IS IN THE UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION, SAID SECOND MOVEMENT LINKS INCLUDING A BELL-CRANK LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER LINK AT A FIRST PIVOT AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST HOLDING LINK AT A SECOND PIVOT AND A SECOND HOLDING LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID BELL-CRANK LEVER AT A THIRD PIVOT AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AT A SECOND MOVEMENT HOLDING PIVOT, SAID BELL-CRANK LEVER PIVOTING WITH RESPECT TO SAID CARRIER LINK DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE FOR RAISING SAID FIRST HOLDING LINK AND SUBSTANTIALLY OPENING THE ANGLE BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST DURING SAID SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE, STOP MEANS DEFINING THE UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION AND THE FULLY RECLINED POSITION OF SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST, AND A LEG-REST MOUNTING LINKAGE MOUNTING SAID LEG-REST FOR MOVEMENT HAVING AN INITIAL UPWARD COMPONENT OF MOTION FROM SAID STORED POSITION TO SAID ELEVATED, LEG-SUPPORTING POSITION IN RESPONSE TO INITIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SEAT AND BACK-REST DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE.