US3169794A - Reclining chair of the multiple movement type - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1965 P. s. FLETCHER 3,169,794

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Original Filed Aug. 27, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. l.

@ :r In I l INVENT OR. PETE/Q s. F'LEIK'HGQ,

P1 F LEZITCHER Feb. 16, 1965 RECLINING CHAIR 0E THEE MUETEHEEE MEWEMEINT Original Filed Aug. 7/1959 INVENTOR. Fame 5. Herc-Meg,

Feb. 16, 1965 P. s. FLETCHER 3,169,794

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug- 27. 1959 -FlG 6.

INVENTOR.

F M R m m M Feb. 16, 1965 P. s. FLETCHER 3,169,794

RECLINING-CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Original Filed Aug. 2,7, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR. P5752. \s FLT HEQ Feb. 16, 1965 P. s. FLETCHER 3,169,794

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 27, 1959 FIG. 9.

FIG.

INVENTOR. PTE FZETCH QJ Feb. 16, 1965 P. $.FLETCHER 3,169,794

RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE MOVEMENT TYPE Original Filed Aug. 27, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.- n.

INVENTOR. P7 d. 1 25 TCl/ifi,

arroausys llnited States Patent 7 r 3,169,794 RECLINING CHAIR OF THE h'lULTiPLE MOVEMENT TYPE 7 l Peters. Fletcher, Delray Beach, Fin. Continuation of application Ser. No. $36,410, Aug. 27, 1959. This application Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 233,182 8 Claims. (6!. 297-85) This is a Continuation of my earlier filed application Serial No. 836,410 filed August 27, 1959, entitled Reclining Chair of the Multiple Movement Type, now abandoned, which was a continuation in part of my applicatiori Serial No. 676,044 filed August 2, 1957, entitled Reclining Chairs, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to reclining chairs, and in particular to an improved reclining chair of the type including body-supporting means having a movable backrest and movable seat which are coordinated with each other to include at least two distinct phases of chair movement.

The well known reclining chair comprises a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat movably mounted on the support, and a leg-rest mounted beneath the seat and movable into various elevated legsuppo'rting positions, with appropriate means coordinating the back-rest, seat and leg-rest for the requisite chair movement. Heretofore, there have been two distinct types of reclining chairs, those constructed with a rigid body-supporting unit including a unitary back-rest and seat mounted on the support for movement into various tilted positions and those constructed with a movable back-rest and movable seat mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively. Chairs of the type incorporating a rigid or unitary seat and back-rest unit were found to be most suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a tilted-back position, but in a sitting attitude, with the occupants legs supported on the elevated leg-rest. Such chairs are particularly suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in an attitude appropriate for television viewing, reading, sewing and like activities. Chairs of the type incorporating a movable back-rest and movable seat are suitable for complete and full relaxation in that the angle between the back-rest and seat increases in response to reclining movement of the chair to comfortably accommodate the chair occupant in a stretched out or fully reclined attifude.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reclining chair which exhibits attributes of both types of chairs which have been heretofore sold, to wit, those suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a tilted-back sitting attitude and those suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in a fully reclined or complete relaxation attitude.

Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved reclining chair wherein in a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position, during which there is substantially no angular displacement between the back-rest and seat, the leg-rest is moved to an elevated leg-supporting position to establish the intermediate, tilted sitting position; and in a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to a fully reclined position, the angle between the seat and back-rest opens up,with the leg-rest remaining elevated, to establish acompleterelaxation or fully reclined attitude. Ad vantageously, with this type of chair, the functional attributes of chairs having a rigid seat and back-rest and chairs having a movable seat and movable back-rest may be realized in asingle construction, with the occupant having the added facility to move first to an intermediate,

3,169,794 Patented Feb. 15, 1 965 2 tilted sitting position and then through successive reclined positions to a fully reclinedposition.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chair of the double movement type having good balancing and sequencing characteristics. 7

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention there is provided a reclining chair of the double move ment type which comprises a support, body-supporting means including a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively, the body-supporting means being movably mounted on the support for a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position. The mountingmeans includes a first linkage for guiding the body-supporting means for movement from the sitting position to the intermediate, tilted sitting position and a second linkage for guiding the body-supporting means for movement from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to the reclining position. Thesecondlinkage includes the support as the stationary link thereof, a carrier link as a movable link thereof, and second connecting means movably mounting the carrier link on the support. The first linkage is mounted on the second linkage which serves as a stationary support therefor during the first movement phase and includes the seat as a movable link thereof and first connecting means movably mounting the seat on the second linkage. The back-rest is pivotally mountedon the seat and means are provided for operatively connecting the back-rest to one of the movable links of the second linkage.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following de tailed description of several presently preferred illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying wherein the back-rest and seat have been angularly displaced relative to each other to establish a complete relaxation position for the chairoccupant, with the leg-rest being disposed iii an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned showing a further embodiment of a reclining chair of the double movement type and embodying further features of the present invention with the chair in the upright sitting position; v

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the reclining chair in an intermediate, tilted sittin'g position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevatedleg-supporting position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclinedposition wherein the back-rest and seat have been angularly displaced relative to each other to establish a complete relaxation position for the chair occupant, with the leg-rest being disposed in an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a still further embodiment of a reclining chair of the double movement type and em- 3 bodying further features of the present invention, with the chair in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the reclining chair in an intermediate, tilted sitting position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position;

7 FIG. 9 isa side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position wherein the back-rest and seat have been angularly displaced relative to each other to establish av complete relaxation position for the chair occupant, with the leg-rest being disposed in an elevated leg-supporting position;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, showing a still further embodiment of a reclining chair of the double movement type and embodying further features of the present invention with the chair in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1,

but showing the reclining chair in an intermediate, tilted sitting position, with the leg-rest moved to an elevated leg-supporting position; and 7 FIG. 12 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the reclining chair in a fully reclined position wherein the back-rest and seat have been angularly displaced relative to each other to establish a complete relaxation position for the chair occupant, with the leg-rest being disposed in an elevated leg-supporting position.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first embodiment of a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a supporter frame 12 having opposite side walls 14, 16 interconnected by suitable cross braces 18 and supported on depending legs 20.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 22 and a seat 24 are movably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively for a first movement phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustraed in FIG. 2 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 24 is the leg-rest 26 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1, to a first ele vated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG, 2 and to a further elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 3. As will be described, the leg-rest 26 is coordinated to the back-rest 22 and the seat 24 for movement into the elevated leg-supporting position in response to the first movement phase of the chair, with the leg-rest 26 remaining substantially in the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moves from the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 to the fully reclined or complete relaxation position of FIG. 3.. g t

A mounting arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 28, is provided for guidingthe backrest 22 and the seat 24 during the firstand second movement phases, The mounting arrangement includes a first linkage for guiding the body-supporting means from the sitting position to the intermediate, tilted sitting position and'a second linkage for guiding the body-supporting means for movement from thetintermed iate, tilted sitting position totthe-reclining position. Since the first linkage which is operative during the first movement phase is.

built onto the second linkage in the mounting arrangement 28, it will facilitate the understanding of the invention if the second linkage'isdescribed first,

Specifically the second linkage includes. a carrier link 34) which is movably mounted on the support 12, the carrier link 34) remaining relatively stationary during the first movementphase, as may be appreciated by progresextends fore and aft of the chair.

' gressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3. At its front end, carrier link 30 is movably mounted on the support by a front guiding link 32 which is disposed in an upwardly inclined attitude and has a pivotal mount 34 at its upper end on the support and a pivotal connection 36 at its lower end to the front end of the carrier link 30. At its rearward end the carrier link 30 is movably mounted on the support 12 by a rear guiding link 38 having a pivotal mount 4% on the support and a piovtal connection 42 at a point spaced above its lower end to the rearward end of the carrier link 3%. The links 30,32 and 38 Will be recognized as providing a four-bar second movement linkage wherein the stationary link thereof is the portion of the support 12 intermediate the front and rear, pivotal mounts 34, 4t), and the movable links thereof are the front guiding link 32 intermediate the pivots 34, 36 the carrier link 3% and the rear guiding link 38 intermediate the pivots 5-h, 42. Effectively, the front and rear guiding links 32, 38 movably mount the carrier link 30 on the support 12. V

Built onto the second linkage, is the first linkage the second linkage serving as a stationary support for the first linkage during the first movement phase. Specifically, the seat 24 is carried by a mounting link or plate 44 which The seat 24 and the rigid mounting link or plate 44 serve as a movable link of the first linkage and together are movably mounted on the carrier link 39 by a front guiding link 48 which has a pivotal mount on the forward end of the carrier link 30 coaxially with the pivotal connection 36 and a pivotal conlink 30 intermediate the pivotal mounts 36, 54 serves as the stationary link thereof during the first movement phase. Selected links of the first linkage,namely the front and rear guiding links 48, 52, serve to movably mount the seat 24 on the carrier link 30. g V

The back-restZZ is mounted on the rearward end of the seat mounting link 44 at a back-rest pivot 46 Provision is made for coupling the back-rest 22 which is mounted on the movable link 44- of the'first movement phase linkage it will be appreciated that the invention incorporated in the chair It) may be described as follows The chair 10 has its support 12 and body-suppor-ting'm'eans including the seat 24 and back-rest 2 2 which are movably mounted by the mounting means 28 on the support 12 for movement from the upright sitting position to the intermediate,

tilted sitting positionvand then to the fully reclined posi tion. The mounting means of the chair 1! includes afirst linkage, including links 43, 24 and 52, for the first move ment phase-Land a second linkage including links 32, 38,; 3t; and 12, for, the second movement phase. The first linkage is mounted on the second linkage which serves as a stationary support therefor. The second linkage in cludes the support 12as a stationary link thereof, the carrier link 3% and pivotally interconnected movable links including second linkage connecting means (links 32 and 38) movably mounting the carrier'link'stl on the support 12. The first linkage is mounted on the second. linkage by the interconnection of link 32 with the carrier link 36 at 36 and the interconnection of the link 38 with the carrier link 3t) at 42, the carrier link 3t serving as a stationary support for the first linkage during the first movement phase. The first linkage includes pivotally interconnected movable links including the's'eat 24 (i.e. the mounting link 44) and first connecting means comprising links '49 and 52 serving as the rear guidihg means movably mounting the seat 24 on the second linkage. T Means are also provided in the chair '16, including the back-rest link 60, pivotally connecting the back-rest 22 to movable link 38 of the second linkage for guiding the, back-rest during movement of the body-supporting unit 'within the frame 12. V

In this illustrative embodiment, the leg-rest 26 is mounted for movement into the several elevated leg-supporting positions by a leg-rest mounting linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral es, which includes three link pairs, respectively designated by the numeral 68, 7t 72, 74 and 76, 73. I The link 68 of the firstlink pair has a pivotal mount St) on the support intermediate its ends such that the link '68 serves as a double-arm lever. The upper arm of the double-arm lever '68 is connected to the mounting link or plate 44 which moves rearwardly relative to the support during the first movement phases by a pull-type actuating link 82 which has a pivotal connection S4 at its forward end to the upper end of the double arm lever 63 and a pivotal connection 86 at its rearward end to the mounting link 44. The lower arm'of the double-arm lever 68 is coup-led to the link 79 by apivotal connection 38 between the adjacent ends thereof. The links 72, 74 of the second link pair have their adjacent ends pivotally interconnected at the pivotal connection 90. The links 76, 78 of the third link pair have their adjacent ends pivotally interconnected at the pivotal connection 92. The link 70 of the first link pair 67, 70 is coupled to the link 76 of the third link pair 76, 78 at the pivotal connection 94. The link 72 of the second link pair, 72, 74 has a pivotal mount 96 on the support at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal mount 80 and has a pivotal connection 98 to the link 7t) of the first link pair. The link 74 0f the second link pair has a pivotal connection 1% at its forward end to the leg-rest 26 and a pivotal connection 162 intermediate its end to the link 76 of the third link pair. Finally, the link 78 ofthe third link pair has a pivotal connection 104 to the leg-rest at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 130. The pivotally interconnected link pairs 68, 70, 72, 7.4 and 7&5, '78 will be recognized as providing a lazy-tong type of mounting linkage 66 which is effective to extend and elevate the legrest in response to turning movenientof the double-arm lever 68 on the pivotal mount 89 upon application of a rearwar-dly directed pulling force to the upper arm thereof via the pull link 82 coupled to the seat 24-.

Appropriate stops may be provided to establish the intermediate, tilted position ofFiG'. 2 and the fully reclined position of FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 2, the rearward side of the link 4-8 of the first movementphase linkagecontiguous to the pivot 36 abuts a stop 85 on the carrier link 30 in the intermediate, tilted sitting positionand serves as an effective means for-blocking the movement of the movable links of the first linkage relative to the carrier link 30 which serves as the stationarylink thereof. As seen in FIG. 3, the rear cross-brace 18 of the chairsupport or frame 12'abuts the lower rearward end of the back-rest 22 to establish the fully reclined position for the chair. It will be appreciated however, that other'types of stops may be employed in accordance with techniques which are generally understood.

For a better understanding of this embodiment of the presentinvention, reference will be made to a typical sequence of operations:

' When the chair occupant is seated in the chair 1! and leans against the back-rest 22, the seat 24 is displaced rearwardly relative to the support. During the first move- 6 meat phase, the seat 24 is guided relative to the support by the first linkage mounted on the carrier link 30 serving as a stationary support therefor the movablelinks thereof including the front guiding link 48, the mounting link 44 intermediate the connections 59, 56 and the rear guiding link 52. The back-rest 22 is mainatined in substantially the same angular relationship to the seat 24 by the arrangement of the back-rest link 60 which is seen to extend substantially parallel with the rear guiding link 52. The rearward displacement of the seat 24 and the back-rest 22 continues with substantially no angular displacement therebetween until the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 is reached, which position is established by con tact of the rearward side of the link 48 in the re gionof the pivot 36 against the carrier link 30. 7 During such rearward displacement of the seat 24 and back-rest 22, a rearwardly directed pulling force is applied to the leg-rest mounting linkage 66 via the link 82 which tends to turn the upper arm of the double-arm lever 68in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount thereby movingthe leg-rest to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position, as shown in FIG. 2. w

During the second movement phase, the links 48, 52 and the mounting link 44' and seat 24 become a unitary assembly with the carrier link 30 for all intents and purposes. However the back rest 22 is capable of harm ing about the back-rest pivot 46 on the mounting link 44 during the movement of the second movement phase link age. Specifically, as the chair occupant places Weight against the back-rest 22, thereis a tendency for the back rest 22 to pivot rearwardly about the back-rest pivot 46 which applies a rearwardly directed pulling force to the back-rest link 6t) which force is transmitted to therear guiding link 38 of the second movement phase linkage. This tends to turn the front and rear guiding links 32; 58 in the counter-clockwisedirection about their respective pivotal mounts 3d, 40, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3. The second movement phase continues until such time as the back rest 22 is blocked against further rearward movement which occurs in this illustrative embodimentwhen thei back-rest abuts the rear brace 13 of the chair frame or support 12. During such second movement phase there is a continued rearward displacement of the seat 24 with the carrier link 30 which applies a further turning move rnent to the double-arm lever 68 thereby further extend-v ing and elevating the leg-rest 26 to a further leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat 24.

When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG 1, the occupant leans forwardly such that the back-rest, seat and leg-rest move through the reverse sequence of movernents, with the chair first moving into the intermediate, tilted sitting positionof FIG. 2 and then being returned to the upright or sitting position of FIG. 1.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 to 6 of the drawings, there is shown a further embodiment of a reclining chair demonstrating features ofthe present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 116, which includes a support or frame 112 having opposite side walls 114-, 116 interconnected by suitable cross braces 118 and supported on depending legs 1 20 n I Body-supporting means includinga back-rest 122 and seat 124 are movably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining move ment respectively. for a first move ment phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG; 4 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 5 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 5 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 6.

Disposed beneath the forward end. of the seat 124 is the leg-rest 126 which is mounted for movement from I a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 4, to:

a first elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 5

and to a further elevated leg-supporting position as shown inFIG. 6. coordinated to the back-rest 122 and the seat for movement into the elevated leg-supporting position 111 response to the first movement phase of the chair, with As will be described, the leg-rest 126 is the leg-rest 126 remaining substantially in the elevated from the sitting position to the intermediate, tilted sitting.

position and a second linkage for guiding the body-supporting means for movement from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to the reclining position. Since the first linkage which is operative during the first movement phase is built onto the second linkage in the mounting arrangement 128, it will facilitate the understanding of the invention if the second linkage is described first.

Specifically, the second linkage includes a carrier link 130 which is movably mounted on the support 112, the carrier link 131) remaining stationary during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5, and moving during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. and 6. At its front end, the carrier link 130 is mounted on the support by a front guiding link 132 which is disposed in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined attitude and has a pivotal mount 134 at its lower end on the support 112 and a pivotal connection 136 at a point intermediate its ends to the carrier link 130. At its rearward end, the carrier link 130 is movably mounted on the support 112 by a rear guiding link 138 having a pivotal mount 140 at its upper end on the sup port and a pivotal connection 142 at its lower end to its rearward end of the carrier link 130. The links 134 132 and 138 will be recognized as providing a four-bar second movement linkage wherein the stationary link thereof is the portion of the support 112 intermediate the front and rear pivotal mounts 134, 140, and the movable links thereof ar'e the front guiding link 132 intermediate the pivots 134, 136, the carrier link 130 intermediate the pivots 136, 142, and the rear guiding link 138. Effectively, the front and rear guiding links 132, 138 mov ably mount the carrier link 130 ion the support 112.

Built onto the second linkage is the first linkage, the second linkage provided a stationary support for the first 124 moves rearwardly during the first movement phase, the lower arm of link or lever 148 swings through a forward are which actuates the toggle linkage mechanism :as may be appreciated by comparing'FIGS. 4 and 5.

During the first movement phase, the links 148, 152, 153, 186 and the seat 124 of the first movement linkage will be recognized as providing movable links of a six-bar linkage wherein the carrier -link13t) of the second movernent linkage intermediate the pivotal mounts 149, 154 :serves as the stationary support therefor. The seat 124 carries a rearwardly directed hanger 144 and the back- .rest 122 is mounted on the rearward end of the hanger linkage during the first movement phase. The seat 124 serves as a movable link of the first linkage and is movably mounted on the carrier link of the second linkage by a front guiding link 148 which has a pivotal mount 149 intermediate its ends on the forward end of the carrierlink 130 and a pivotal connection 150 to theseat 124. Further, there is provided a rear guiding link pair 152, 153. which has a pivotal mount 154 on the carrier link 130 at a point spaced from the rearward end there of and a pivotal connection 156 tothe hanger 144 on the seat 124 at a point spaced rearwardly of the pivotal connection 150. The rear guiding links 152, 153 are connected at a knee pivot 155 and will be recognized as providing a toggle linkage mechanism, which upon movement of the knee pivot 155 out of alignment with the pivots 1 54, 156, causes a rapid lowering of the rearward portion of the body-supportingl means. The knee pivot 155 of the rearguidingtoggle linkage mechanism 152, 153 is moved forwardly out of alignment with'the pivots 154, 156 by the'provision of a pull type actuating link186 which has a pivotal connection at its rearward end to the rear guiding links 152, 153 coaxially with the knee pivo t155 anda pivotalv connection 188 at its forward end to the front guiding link 148 at a point spaced below the pivotal mount 149. Accordingly whenthe seat 1144 at a hack-rest pivot 146.

Provision is made for coupling the back-rest 122 to one of the movable links of the second movement phase linkage. Specifically, a depending bracket 158 is secured to the lower end of the backrest 122 which is coupled to the front guiding link 132 of thesecond linkage by a back-rest link 1643 having a pivotal connection 162 at one end to the bracket 158 and a pivotal connection 164 at the other end to the upper end of the front guiding link 132 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 136.

In this illustrative embodiment, the leg-rest 126 is mountedfor movement into the several elevated leg-supporting positions by a leg-rest mounting linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 166, which includes two link pairs. The front guiding link 148 of the first linkage serves as one link of the first link pair, with the pivotal mount 149 on the carrier link 134 intermediate its ends efiectively providing a double-arm lever. The upper arm of the double-armlever 148 is connected to the seat 124 at the pivotal connection 15% which moves rearwardly relative to the support during the first movement phase. Thelower arm of the double-arm lever 148 is coupled to the rearward end of a conecting link 168 at a pivotal connection 170 which connecting link has a pivotal connection 172 at its forward end to the leg-rest 126. The leg-rest mounting linkage 166 is completed by a second link pair 174, 176 and have their'adjacent ends pivotally interconnected'at the pivotal connection 178. The link 174 of the second link pair has a pivotal mount 180 on the seat 124 at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal mount 149 and has a pivotal connection 182 to the link 168 of the first link pair. Finally, the link 176 of the second link pair has a pivotal connection 184 at its forward end to the leg-rest 126 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 172. The pivotally interconnected link pairs 148, 168 and 174, 176 will be recognized as providing a lazy tong type of mounting linkage 166 which is effective to extend and elevate the leg-rest in response to turning" movement of the double-arm lever 148 about the pivotal mount 149 in response to a rearwardly directed pulling force being applied to the upper arm thereof incident to rearward displacement of the seat 124.

fully reclined position of FIG. 6. As seen in FIG. 5 the pivotal connection 150 of the front guiding link 148 abuts the carrier link 130 in the intermediate, tilted position and serves as an effective means for blocking the movement of the links of the first linkage relative to each other and to the carrier link'130. As seen in FIG. 6 the rear end of the carrier link 130 will abut the pivotal connection 162 to establish the fully reclined position for the chair.

vreference will be made to a typical sequence of operations;

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair 110 and leans against the back-rest 122, the seat 124 is displaced rearwardly relative to the support. During such first movement phase, the seat 124is guided relative to the support by the movable first movement links which are supported by the second linkage serving as a stationary 7 Appropriate stops may be provided to establish the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 5 and the with techniques which are support therefor, the movable links including the front guiding link 148, the seat 124 intermediate the connections 150, 156, the rear guiding links 152, 153 and the actuating link 186. The back-rest 122 is maintained in substantially the same angular relationship to the seat 124 by the arrangement of the back-rest link 160 which is seen to extend substantially parallel to the seat 124. The tilting movement of the seat 124 and the back-rest 122 continues with substantially no angular displacement therebetween until the intermediate, tilted position of FIG. is reached, which position is established by contact of the pivotal connection 150' against the carrier link 130. During such tilting movement of the seat 124 and backrest 122 a rearwardly directed pullingforce is applied to the upper arm of the lever 148 of the leg-rest mounting linkage 1&6 from the seat 124 which tends to turn the upper arm of the lever 148 in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 149 on the stationary carrier link 13% thereby moving the leg-rest to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 5.

During the second movement phase, the links 148, 152, 153, 186 and the seat 124 become a unitary assembly with the carrier link 130 for all intents and purposes, with the back-rest 122 being capable of turning about the backrest pivot 146 during the movement of the second movement linkage. Specifically, as the chair occupant places weight against the back-rest 122 there is a tendency for the back-rest 122 to pivot rearwardly about the back-rest pivot 146 which applies a forwardly directed pushing force to the back-rest link 160 which pushing force is transmitted to the front guiding link 132 of the second movement phase linkage, tending to turn the front and rear guiding links 132, 138 about their respective pivotal mounts 134, 140 in opposite directions, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 5 and 6. The second movement phase continues until suchtime as the back-rest 122 is blocked against further rearward movement. During such second movement phase there is no relative displacement between the seat 124 and the carrier link 130 and accordingly the leg-rest 126 and seat remain in the same position relative to each other.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 7 to 9 of the drawings there is shown a further embodiment of a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 210, which includes a support or frame 212 having opposite side walls 214, 216 interconnected by suitable cross braces 218 and supported on depending legs 220.

Body supporting means including a back-rest 222 and a seat 224 are movably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movement respectively for a first movement phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 8 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 8 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 9.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 224 is the leg-rest 226 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 7, to a first elevated'leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 8 and to a further elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 9. As will be described, the leg-rest 226 is coordinated to the back-rest 222 and the seat 224 for movement into the elevated leg-supporting position in response to the first movement phase of; the chair, withthe ieg-rest 226 remaining substantially in'the elevated leg-supporting position as the chair moves from the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 8 to the fully reclined or completely relaxation position of FIG. 9. 1

A mounting arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 228, is provided for guiding the back rest 222 and the. seat 22 4 during the first and second movement phases. The mounting arrangement. includes a first linkage for guiding the body-supporting movement 19 from the sitting position to the intermediate, tilted sitting position and a second linkage for guiding the bodysupporting means for movement from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to the reclining position. Since the first linkage which is operative during the first movement phase is built onto the; second linkage in the mounting arrangement 228, it will facilitate the understanding of the invention if the second linkage is described first.

Specifically, thesecon'd linkage includes a carrier link or plate 230 which is movably mounted on the support 212, the carrier link 230 remaining stationary during the first. movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 7 and 8, and moving during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 8 arid 9. At its front end, the carrier link23tl is mounted on thesupport by a front guiding link 232 which is disposed in an upwardly and r'earwardly inclined attitude and has a pivotal mount 234 at its lowerend on the support 212 and a pivotal connection 236 at a point intermediate its ends to the carrier l-ink 2.30. At its rearward end, the carrier link 230 is movably mounted on the support 212 by a rear guiding link 23% having a pivotal mount 240 at its lower end on the support and a pivotal connection 242 at its upper end to its rearward end ofthe carrier link 230. The links 230, 232 and 238 will be recognized as providing a four-bar linkage wherein the stationary link thereof is the portion of the support 2121interm'e'cliate the front and rear pivotal mounts 23 i, 246, andthe movable links thereof are the front guiding link 232 intermediate the pivots 234, 2316, the carrier link 230 intermediate the pivots 236, 242;, and the rear guiding link 238.

v Built onto the second linkage is the first linkage, the second linkage providing a stationary support for the first movement linkage during the first movement phase. The seat 224 serves as a movable link of the first linkage and is movably mounted on the carrier link 230 by a front guiding link 24 8 which has a pivotal mount 249 at its lower end on the forward end of the carrier link 230 and a pivotal connection 250 at its upper end to the seat 224. Further, there is provided a rear guiding link pair 252, 253 which has a pivotal mount on the carrier link 230 c'oaxially with the pivotal connection 242 and a pivotalconnection 256 to the seat 224 at a point spaced rearwardlyof thepivotal connection 250 The rear guiding links 252, 253 are connected at a pivot 255. A constraining or thrust link 257 is provided having a pivotal connection 259 at its forward end to the link 253 and a pivotal mount 261 at its rearward end on the support 212. The links 252, 253 and 257 will be recognized as providing a straight line linkage mechanism, which upon' movement of the pivot 255 out of alignment with the pivots 242, 256, causes a rapid lowering of the rearward portion of the body-supporting means. During the first movement phase, the links 248, 252, 253, 257 and the seat 224 will be recognized as providing the movable links of a six-bar linkage wherein the carrier link 230 intermediate the pivotal mounts 249, 254 serves as the stationary support therefor. The seat 224 carries a rearwardly directed hanger 244 and the back-rest 222 is mounted on the rearward end of the hanger 244 at a back-rest pivot 246.

Provision is made for coupling the back-rest 222 which is mounted on the'seat 224 to one of the movable links of the second movement phase linkage. .Specifically, a depending bracket 258 is securedto the lower end of the back-rest 222 which is coupled to the front guidinglink 232 of the second linkage by a back-rest link 260 having a pivotal connection 262 at one end to the bracket 258 and a pivotal connection 264 at the other end to the upper end of the front guiding link 232 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 236.

In this illustrative embodiment, the leg-rest 226 is mounted for movement into the several elevated legsupporting positions by a leg-rest mounting linkage,v generally designated by the reference numeral 256, which upper end of the link 268 of the first link pair is connected to the seat 224'at a pivotal connection 278 which moves rearwardly relative to the support during the first movement phase. The lower end of the link 268 is coupled to the rearward end ofthe link 270 at 'a pivotal connection 280 which link has a pivotal connection 282 at its forward end to the leg-rest 226. The leg-rest mounting linkage 266 is completed by the second link pair 272, 274 having their adjacent ends pivotally interconnected at the pivotal connection 284. The link 272 of the second link' pair has a pivotal mount 286 on the seat 224 at a point spaced forwardly of the pivotal mount 278 and has a pivotal connection 288 to the link 270 of the first link pair. Finally the link 274 of the second link pair has a pivotal connection 289 at its forward end to the leg-rest 226 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 282.

The pivotally interconnected link pairs 268, 270, and 272, 274 will be recognized as providing a lazy tong type of mounting linkage 266 which is effective to extend and elevate the leg-rest in response to turning movement of the links 268, 272 about their respective pivotal mounts 278, 286 in response to rearward displacement of the seat 224.

The pivot 255 of the rear guiding straight line linkage rnechanisrn252, 253 is moved forwardly out of alignmentwith the pivots 242, 256 incident to the rearward displacement of the seat and is coupled via connecting link 290 to the leg-rest mounting linkage 266. The connecting link has a pivotal connection at its rearward end to the rear guiding links 252, 253 coaxially with the pivot 255 and a pivotal connection 292 at its forward end to the link 268 at a point spaced below the pivotal mount 278. Accordingly when the seat 224 moves rearwardly during the first movement phase, the link 268 swings through a forward are which actuates the legrest mounting linkage 266, as may be appreciated by comparing FIGS. 7 and 8. r

, Appropriate stops may be provided to establish the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 8 and the fully reclined position of FIG. 9. As seen in FIG. 8 the pivotal connection 250 of the front guiding link 248 abuts the carrier link 230 in the intermediate, tilted position and serves as a means for blocking the movement of the movable links of the first linkage relative to the carrier link 239. As seen in FIG. 9 the front guiding link 232 will abut the adjacent cross brace 218 to establish the fully reclined position for the chair. It will be appreciated however, that other types of stops may be applied in accordance with techniques which are generally understood.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference will be made to a typical sequence of operations.

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair 210 and leans against the back-rest 222, the seat 224 is displaced rearwardly relative to the support. During such first movement phase, the seat 224 is guided relative to the support by the guiding linkage mounted on the second movement linkage serving as a stationary support therefor and including as movable links thereof the front guiding link 248, the seat 224 intermediate the connections 256 the rear guiding links 252, 253, and the link' link 230. During suchrearward displacement of the seat 224 and. back-rest 222 a forwardly directed thrust is ap- 12 plied to the link 268 of the leg-rest mounting linkage 266 from the connecting link 2% which moves the leg-rest to the extended and elevated'leg-supporting' position shown in FIG; 8. a i V v During the second movement phase, the links 248, 252,

253, 257 and the seat 224 become a unitary assembly with the, carrier link- 230 for all intents and purposes, with the back-rest 222 being capable of turning about the backrest pivot 246 during the movement or the second movement phase linkage. Specifically, as the chair occupant places weight against the back-rest 222 there is a tendency for the back-re's't'222 to pivot rearwardly about the backrest pivot 246 which applies a forwardly directed pushing force to the back-rest link 260 which pushing'for'ce is transmitted to the front guiding link 232 of the second movement phase linkage, tending to turn the front and rear guiding links 232, 238 about their respective pivotal mounts 234, 240 in the same directions, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 8 and 9. The second movement phase continues until such time as the back-rest 222 is blocked against further rearward movement. During such second movement phase there is no relative displacement between the seat 224 and the carrier link 230 and accordingly the leg-rest 226 and seat remain in the same relative position. 8

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 10 to 12 of the drawings, there is shown a further embodiment of re clining chair demonstrating features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 310, which includes a support or frame 312 having opposite side walls 314, 316 interconnected by suitable cross braces 318 and supported on depending legs 320.

Body-supporting means including a back-rest 322 and a seat 324 are movably mounted on the support for reclining and inclining movementrespectively for a first movement phase from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 10 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 11 and for a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 11 through a series of reclining positions to a fully reclined or complete relaxation position illustrated in FIG. 12. I

Disposed beneath the forwardend of the seat 324 is the leg-rest 326 which is mounted for movement from a stored or retracted position, as shown in FIG. 10,'to a first elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIG. 11 and to a further elevated leg-supporting position as shown in FIG. 12. As will be described, the leg-rest 326 is coordinated to the back-rest 322 and the seat 324 for movementinto the elevated leg-supporting position inresponse porting position as the chair moves from the intermediate,

tilted sitting position of FIG. 11 to the fully reclined or completely relaxation position of F IG. l2.

A mounting arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 328, is provided for guiding the back rest 322 and the seat 324 during the first and second movement phases, which arrangement includes a first linkage for guiding the body-supporting means for movement from the sitting position to the intermediate, tilted sitting position and a second linkage for'guiding'the body-supporting means for movement from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to the reclining position.

The second linkage includes a carrier link or plate 330 which is movably mountedon the support 312. The earrier link remains stationary during the first movement phase as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 10 and 11, and moves relative to the support during the second movement phase as may be appreciated by inspecting FIGS. 11 and. 12. At its front end, the carrier link 330 is mounted on the support 312 by a front guiding linkage which'includes first and second guiding links 332, 333 which are arranged substantially parallel'and a connecting link 337 which extends across oneend of the front guiding links 332, 333. The front guiding links 332, 333 have respective pivotal mounts 334, 335 on the support 312 with pivotal connections 339, 341 to the connecting link 337. The front guiding links 332, 333 and the connecting link 337 intermediate the pivotal connections 339, 341 provide a four-bar front guiding linkage for the carrier link or plate 330. The connecting link 337 has a pivotal connection 336 at its upper end to the carrier link or plate 336. The second linkage further includes a pin and slot interconnection intermediate the rearward end of the carrier link or plate 330 and the support. Specifically a stationary pin 338 is mounted on the support and is confined within an elongated slot340 provided in a carrier link 330, with the stationary pin 338 normally being seated at the upper end of the slot 340. During the second movement phase, the carrier link 330 is displaced relative to the support such that the slot 340 translates relative to the pin 338 and at the end of the second movement phase the stationary pin 338 is seated at the lower end of the slot, as shown in FIG. 12. It will of course be appreciated that the pin and slot interconnection 338, 340 can be replaced by an equivalent rear guiding link. The seat 324 carries a rearwardly directed hanger 344 upon which the back-rest 322 is pivotally mounted at a back-rest pivot 346. The back-rest carries a depending bracket or extension 358 which is coupled via a backrest link 360 to one of the movable links of the second movement phase linkage. Specifically the second movement phase linkage includes an actuating linkage having a front guiding double arm lever 362 having a pivotal mount 364 intermediate its ends on the support with one 'arm thereof being connected to the carrier link 33% via a connecting link 366 having a pivotal connection 368 at one end thereof to the carrier link 33s and a pivotal connection 370 at the other end thereof to the double arm lever 362. The other arm of the double arm lever 362 is coupled via a further connecting link 372 which has a pivotal connection 374 at the forward end thereof to the arm of the double-arm lever 362 and a pivotal connection 376 at the rearward end thereof to a rear guiding link 378 having a pivotal mount 38% on the support. The back-rest link 360 has a pivotal connection 382 at one end thereof to the depending bracket or extension 358 of the back-rest and a pivotal connection 376 at the other end thereof to the rear guiding link 378 and the connecting link 372. The back-rest link 3.60 serves during the second movement phase to transmit motion from the back-rest via the second movement actuating links 362,372, 378 to the rest of the second movement phase linkage, as will subsequently be described.

Built onto the second linkage is the first linkage, the second linkage serving as a stationary support therefor in the first movement phase. Theseat 324 is included as a movable link of the first movement linkage and is pivotally mounted at the front endon the plate 330 at the pivot 350.

As is seen in FIG. the depending extension 358 and the back-rest link 360 are arranged to provide a toggle linkage mechanism serving as a rear guide means for the first movement phase linkage. The rear guiding toggle linkage mechanism is actuated in response to a small reclining movement of the back-rest 322 about the back-rest pivot 546 which small reclining movement causes the pivot 382 serving as a knee pivot between the toggle links 358, 369 to move through a forward are out of the position of alignment with the back-rest pivot 346 and the pivotal connection 376, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 10 and 11. A stop 384 is provided to preclude movement of the toggle linkage in the reverse direction out of the position illustrated in FIG. 19. A spring 381 is connected to the toggle linkage to normally hold the back-rest in the upright position shown in FIG. 10.

In this illustrative embodiment the leg-rest 326 is mounted directly on the seat 324 by a leg-rest hanger 386 rigid therewith and having a pivotal mount 338 at its upper end on the seat 324. The leg-rest 326 is actuated by the provision of a double-arm actuating lever 39% which is pivoted on the carrier link 330 at the pivotal mount 392. The short arm of the dorible-arrn lever 3% is coupled to the seat 324 by a connecting link 3% which has a pivotal connection 396 at its lower end to the double-arm lever 390 arid a pivotal connection 338 at its upper end to the seat 324. The longer arm of the double-arm lever 390 is coupled to the leg-rest by a further connecting link 408 which has a pivotal connection 402 at its rearward end to the. double-arm lever 390 and a pivotal connection 484 at its forward end to the hanger arm 386 for the leg-rest 326.

Appropriate stops are provided to establish the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 11 and the fully reclined position of FIG. 12. As seen in FIG. 2 a stop- 406 is mounted on the carrier link 33% to abut the undersurface of the seat when the toggle linkage 358, 360 has collapsed to lower the rearward portion of the bodysupporting means to thereby establish the intermediate, tilted sitting position. The fully reclined position in turn is established by the rear cross brace of the frame coming into contact with the back-rest as shown in FIG. 12.

For a better understanding of this embodiment of the invention reference will be made to a typical sequence of operations:

When the chair occupant is seated in the chair 313 and leans against the back-rest 322 the knee pivot 38-2 of the toggle linkage mechanism 358, 366 which serves as a rear guide means: for the first movement phase linkage moves through a forward arc which causes the toggle linkage to rapidly lower the rearward portion of the body-supporting means, with the seat 324 turning about its pivotal mount 350 on the carrier link 338. Incident to such turning movement of the seat 324 about its relatively-stationary pivotal connection 35%) to the carrier link 33%, the connecting link 394 tends to turn the arm 3% of the double-arm lever intermediate the pivots 392,

394 in -a clock-wise direction, causing the arm of the double-arm lever 3% intermediate the pivots 392, 4-32 to swing through an upward and forward are moving the leg-rest to the elevated leg-supporting position. Such movement continues until the seat 324 contacts the stop 406 on the carrier link whereupon the seat becomes a unitary assembly with the carrier link 336 for all intents and purposes.

To initiate the second movement phase the chair occupant leans further against the back-rest which causes the back-rest 322 to turn about the back-rest pivot 346 whereupon the links 362, 378 are turned in the clockwise direction about their respective pivotal connections 364, 383 as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 11 and 12. Such movement is coupled to the carrier link 330 via the connecting link 366 which causes the carrier link to move relative to the support, with thecarrier link being guided in its movement by the four-bar guiding linkage provided at theforward end thereof and the pin and slot interconnection 338, 340 provided at the rearward end thereof. Such movement continues until such time as the slot 349 translates to a position wherein the pin 338 is seated at the lower end thereof.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there is provided in accordance with the present invention reclining chairs suitable for accommodating av chair ocoupant in a tilted-back position in a sitting attitude with the occupants leg supported on an elevated leg-rest and for further accommodating the chair occupant in a full and complete relaxation position wherein the angle between the seat and back-rest is increased to comfortably accommodate the occupant in a stretchcd out or fully reclined attitude.

A latitude ofmodification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some inrnnt phase from a sitting position to an intermediate,

tilted sitting position during which there is no appreciable relative angular displacement between said back-rest and seat and for a second movement phase from said intermed1ate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position during which said back-rest is angularly displaced relative to said seat, the mounting means including a first linkage for guiding said body-supporting means for movement from said sitting position to said intermediate, tilted sitting position and a second linkage for guiding said body-supporting means for movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to said reclining position, said first linkage being mounted on said second linkage, said second linkage including said support as a stationary link thereof, a carrier link, and pivotally interconnected movable links including second linkage connecting means movably mounting said carrier link on said support, said first linkage being mounted'on said second linkage with said carrier link serving as a relatively stationary support therefor during said first movement phase, said first linkage including pivotally interconnected movable links in cluding said seat and first linkage connecting means serving as front and rear guiding means movably mounting said seat on said second linkage, and means including a first linkage connecting means includes means pivotally mounting said seat on said carrier link at a front pivotal mount and a toggle linkage mechanism including said back-rest as one toggle link and a back-rest link pivotally connected to said back-rest and one movable link of said second linkage as the other toggle link thereof.

8. Arre'clining chair comprising a support, body-supporting'means including a back-rest and seat adapted to be mounted on said support for reclining and inclining movement respectively, and means movably mounting body-supporting means on said support for a first movement'phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting'position during which there is no appreciable relative angular displacement between-said back-rest and seat and for a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position during which said back-rest is angularly displaced relative to said seat, the mounting means including a first linkage for guiding said body-supporting means for movement from said sitting position to said intermediate, tilted sitting position and a second linkage for guiding said bodysupporting means for movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to said reclining position, said first linkage mounted on said second linkage, said second linkage including said 'support'as a stationary link thereof, a carrier link, and pivotally interconnected movable links including second linkage connecting links movably mounting said carrier link on said support, said first linkage being mounted on said second linkage with said carrier link serving as a relatively stationary support therefor during said first movement phase said first linkage including pivotally interconnected movable links including said seat, and first linkage connecting links serving as front and back-rest link pivotally connecting said back-rest to one of said movable links of said second linkage.

2. A reclining chair according to claim 1 wherein said second linkage connecting means includes a front guiding link having a front pivotal mount on said support and a rear guiding link having a rear pivotal mount on said support. 1 a

3. A reclining chair according to claim 1 wherein said second linkage connecting means includes a guiding linkage including said support as a stationary link thereof.

. '4. A reclining chair according to claim 1 wherein said first linkage connecting means includes a front guiding link pivotally connected between said seat'and said car rier link and a rear guiding link pivotally connected between said seat and said carrier'link.

5. A reclining chair according to claim 1 wherein said first linkage connecting means includes front guiding means and a toggle linkage serving as a rear guide means.

6. A reclining chair according to claim 1 wherein said first linkage connecting means includes front guide means and a straight line linkage mechanism serving as a rear 7 guide means.

7. A reclining chair according to claim 1 wherein said rear guiding means 'rnovably mounting said seat on said carrier link, means including a back-rest link pivotally connecting said back-rest to one of said movable links of said second linkage, a leg-rest, and'means operatively connected' to said leg-rest and said body-supporting means for moving said leg-rest to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to movement of said body-supporting means into said intermediate, tilted sitting position.

References Cited by the Examiner v UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK B; SHERRY, Primary Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING A SUPPORT, BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A BACK-REST AND SEAT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR RECLINING AND INCLINING MOVEMENT RESPECTIVELY, AND MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTING BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT FOR A FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE FROM A SITTING POSITION TO AN INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION DURING WHICH THERE IS NO APPRECIABLE RELATIVE ANGULAR DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN SAID BACK-REST AND SEAT AND FOR A SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION T A RECLINING POSITION DURING WHICH SAID BACK-REST IS ANGULARLY DISPLACED RELATIVE TO SAID SEAT, THE MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST LINKAGE FOR GUIDING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT FROM SAID SITTING POSITION TO SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION AND A SECOND LINKAGE FOR GUIDING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION TO SAID RECLINING POSITION, SAID FIRST LINKAGE BEING MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND LINKAGE, SAID SECOND LINKAGE INCLUDING SAID SUPPORT AS A STATIONARY LINK THEREOF, A CARRIER LINK, AND PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED MOV-

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