US3030142A - Multiple position reclining chair - Google Patents

Description

F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR April 17, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1959 .NIILA! IN V EN TOR. FQ/DTJOF E' 604/1. lEPHA CKE v arm/ave .vs 2

April 17, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,

MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Dec. 11. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

IN VEN TOR. FQ/DZ/OF F. SCHL/EPHACKf' H MVs April 17, 1962 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,030,142

MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 11, 1959 INVENTOR.

' FO/DZ/OF FSCWL/EPHACKE BY I M V Arr-00w! FIG. 6.

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3,030,142 MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Iierlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz Filed Dec. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 1,395 13 Claims. (Cl. 297-88) The present invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs of the multiple position type which are adapted to be brought to various body-supporting positions with the leg-rest properly extended in each of said positions, and in particular relates to novel and improved control means for producing the multiple-position movement.

Up to the present time, developments in multiple-position chairs have been restricted to improvements in the so-called two-position chair in which the body-supporting unit is adapted to be moved to an intermediate slightly tilted position or active position in which the occupants body is substantially upright, and then to a fully-reclined position in which the occupants body is rearwardly reclined for relaxation. In the intermediate tilted or active position, the leg-rest is raised to the proper extended position to support the occupants outstretched legs, and in the various reclined positions, the leg-rest is again located in the proper extended position to support the occupants outstretched legs, although the occupants body is now in a reclined position.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a multiple-position tilting and reclining chair which can be referred to as a three-position chair because it is adapted to be brought to a second intermediate reclined position between the first intermediate tilted or active" position and the fully-tilted position. In other words, the body-supporting unit of the chair is moved through a first motion phase to the first active intermediate tilted position in which the occupants body is still in a substantially upright, but slightly tilted, position for reading, sewing, viewing television, or the like. The occupant can then cause the body-supporting unit to move further rearwardly along the second motion phase to a second intermediate reclined position in which the occupants body is held in a more supine state for relaxation. Finally, the body-supporting unit is adapted to move through a third motion phase to a fully-tilted position wherein the occupants body is fully reclined for maximum relaxation. In each of these positions, the leg-rest is maintained at the proper level for supporting the occupants legs in the most comfortable outstretched position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple-position chair of the character described incorporating improved control means for guiding the body-supporting unit through the three motion phases to the three distinct tilted and reclined positions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple-position reclining chair of the character described in which the control means includes a sequencing arrangement for insuring that the three motion phases follow each other in the proper order.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple-position reclining chair of the character described which includes novel leg-rest control means cooperating with the control means for the body-supporting unit to maintain the leg-rest in the proper extended, legsupporting positions at the end of each of the motion phases.

In accordance with the invention, the body-supporting unit is cairied by a pair of guide links, the rear guide link being pivotally mounted on a main carrier member which is in turn pivotally mounted on the support, and the front guide link being pivotally mounted on an auxiliary carrier member which is in turn pivotally mounted on the main g 3,03%,142 Patented Apr. 17, 1962 ice carrier member. During the first motion phase the carrier members are held stationary and the body-supporting unit moves rearwardly on the two guide links. During the second motion phase the main carrier member turns about its pivotal mount on the support, carrying the bodysupporting unit with it. During the third motion phase the body-supporting unit turns about its pivotal connection with the rear guide link and the auxiliary carrier member is pivoted upwardly relative to the main carrier member to permit the forward end of the body-supporting unit to raise relative to the main carrier member. The legrest is swingably mounted on the forward end of the seat and its movement is controlled by link means which connects it to the auxiliary carrier member.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section of a reclining chair incorporating control means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position and the leg-rest in its retracted position; 7

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the chair in its first intermediate tilted or active position with the leg-rest extended to a leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevational view showing chair in its second intermediate reclined position;

FIG. 4 is a similar side elevational view showing the chair of FIG. 1 in its fully-reclined position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of control means made in accordance with the invention and a modified type of leg-rest control linkage, the chair being shown in an upright sitting position and the leg-rest in a retracted position; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in FIG. 5, but with the chair illustrated in its first intermediate tilted position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, the chair shown therein includes a. support frame 10 having spaced, opposed side walls 12 and 14 interconnected by cross bars or braces such as the members 16, 18 and 20. The chair also includes a body-supporting unit 22 which comprises a seat 24 and a back-rest 26 formed rigidly with each other. 7

Control means are provided to mount the body-supporting unit 22 on the support frame 10 and to guide said unit 22 for rearward movement through a first motion phase to the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, then through a second motion phase to a second intermediate reclined position shown in FIG. 3, and finally through a third motion phase to the fully-reclined position shown in FIG. 4. These various positions and the corresponding motion phases will be presently described in greater detail. The control means aforementioned includes a main carrier member 30, an auxiliary carrier member 32, a front guide link 34, a rear guide link 36, and a sequencing arrangement designated generally by the reference numeral 40.

The main carrier member 30 is mounted at its rear end on the support frame 10 by a fixed pivot 42. The lower end of the auxiliary carrier member 32 is mounted on the front end of the main carrier member 30' by pivot 44.

the

v The front guide link 34 is mounted at its lower end on by pivot 52. Thus, while the rear guide link 36 is pivotally mounted directly upon the main carrier member 30, the front guide link is mounted on the main carrier member 30 through the auxiliary carrier member 32.

In the upright sitting position of the body-supporting unit 22 shown in FIG. 1, the seat 24 rests upon the cross bar 18 which supports the unit in its sitting position. The forward end of the main carrier member 30 rests upon and is supported by the cross-bar 16 and is maintained thereby in a substantially horizontal immovable position extending forwardly from the fixed pivot 42. The auxiliary carrier member 32 is also maintained in an immovable position, being inclined rearwardly and upwardly from its pivotal mount 44 on the main carrier member 30 and resting upon a stop member 53 formed rigidly with said main carrier member. During the first motion phase, as the body-supporting unit 22 is moved to the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the main carrier member 30 and the auxiliary carrier member 32 remain stationary and serve as a fixed portion of the support frame, the guide links 34 and 36 pivoting rearwardly thereon to move the body-supporting unit, as will presently be explained in greater detail.

The chair structure also includes a leg-rest 54 carried by a hanger bar 56 which is rigidly connected thereto. The hanger bar 56 is mounted by pivot 60 on the forward end portion of the seat 24, the pivot 60 being located at the free end of the hanger bar 56. An intermediate point on the hanger bar 56 is connected by pivot 62 to the forward end of a leg-rest control link 64, the opposite end of which is connected to the free end of the auxiliary carrier member 32 by pivot 46 which also connects the front guide link 34 to said auxiliary carrier member 32. In the upright sitting position of FIG. 1, the leg-rest 54 is disposed in a retracted position hanging vertically beneath the forward end portion of the seat. The control bar 64 extends upwardly and forwardly from its pivotal mount 46 on the auxiliary carrier member 32 to its pivotal connection 62 with the leg-rest structure.

When the occupant of the chair shifts his weight rearwardly against the back-rest 26, this shifting weight moves the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit 22 rearwardly, and causes the body-supporting unit to move rearwardly through a first motion phase to the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. During this first motion phase, the main carrier member 30 and the auxiliary carrier member 32 remain stationary under the Weight of the unit 22 and the chair occupant, and continue to rest upon their respective supports 16 and 53. The front and rear guide members 34 and 36, however, pivot rearwardly about their respective stationary pivotal mounts 46 and 50 to carry the body-support-unit rearwardly. It will be observed that the front guide link 34 is longer than the rear guide link 36 and is forwardly inclined, while the rear guide link 36 extends substantially vertically upright. As the front guide link 34 turns upwardly and rearwardly about its pivotal mount 46, it raises the front end portion of the seat and moves it rearwardly, lifting the seat off the supporting cross bar 18. At the same time, the rear guide link 36 turns downwardly and rearwardly about its pivotal mount 50, lowering the rear portion of the seat. Thus, during the first motion phase, the guide links 34 and 36 move the body-supporting unit 22 in a compound motion in which it is moved toward the rear and also tilted rearwardly.

The first motion phase ends at the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 by engagement of the rear guide link 36 with a stop member 70 formed integrally with the main carrier member 30. This halts any further rearward pivoting movement of the guide links 34 and 36 relative to the carrier members 30 and 32, and limits further movement of the body-supporting unit to a simple pivoting movement about the main carrier member pivot 42 in a second motion phase, as will be presently described. t

As the body-supporting unit 22 is moved through the first motion phase, the forward end of the seat 24 is lifted and moved rearwardly relative to the stationary carrier members 30 and 32, carrying with it the leg-rest hanger bar 56 and leg-rest 54. The seat carries the pivot 60 in a rearward direction relative to the leg-rest control link 64 which is mounted on the stationary auxiliary carrier member 32. The leg-rest control link 64 restrains the connected intermediate portion of hanger bar 56 at point 62 from rearward movement, and as a result, the pivot 60 moves rearwardly of the pivot 62 causing the hanger bar 56 to turn about its pivotal connection 62 with the control link 64. When the bodysupporting unit reaches its first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the hanger bar 56 has been turned to such an extent that the leg-rest 34 has been raised to the extended position shown, being located almost at the level of the front end of the seat 24. Thus, while the body-supporting unit 22 is only slightly tilted and is still disposed to support the occupants body in a substantially upright position for comfortable reading, viewing television, and the like, the leg-rest 54 is sufficiently extended to support the outstretched legs of the occupant. The first intermediate tilted position is therefore an active position in which the occupants body is positioned with the eyes directed forwardly rather than upwardly.

When the occupant of the chair in the first intermediate active position of FIG. 2 wishes to assume a more reclined position for greater relaxation, he need merely shift his weight further rearwardly against the back-rest 22. This shift of weight moves the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit 22 further to the rear, and causes the unit to tilt from the first intermediate position of FIG. 2 to the second intermediate position of FIG. 3. This reclining movement constitutes the second motion phase of the unit 22.

It will now be observed that since the guide links 34 and 36 are blocked from further rearward pivoting movement in the position of FIG. 2, further rearward movement of the unit 22 is limited to pivoting movement about the pivot 52 or about the pivot 42. During the second motion phase, it is required that such rearward movement of the unit be turning movement about pivot 42, rather than about pivot 52. While it is possible to control the sequence of such movement by adjusting the relative tightness of the respective pivots, it is preferable to provide a positive sequencing means for insuring that the second motion phase comprise a turning movement about the pivot 42 under any prevailing conditions. Consequently, the sequencing arrangement 40 is provided, and operates in the following manner:

The sequencing arrangement 40 comprises a plate 72 secured to the support frame 10 and immovably held thereby. A slot 74 is formed in the plate 72, said slot 74 being formed as a circle segment, with a radius equal to the distance between said slot 74 and the fixed pivot 42. The upper end of slot 74 communicates with a slot extension 76 which is inclined upwardly and forwardly.

The pivot 46, mounting the front guide link 34 on the auxiliary carrier member 32, is in the form of a pin slidable in the slot 74 and extension 76. In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 1, the pivot pin 46 is located at the lower end portion of the slot 74, and remains in this position through the first motion phase until the unit reaches the first intermediate position of FIG. 2. When the body-supporting unit is now turned in a pivotal motion, the only path which the pivot pin 46 can follow is the path defined by the slot 74 which corresponds to the radial path of pivot 46 about the fixed pivot 42. The body-supporting unit cannot, therefore, turn about the pivot 52, since such turning movement would raise the seat 24 relative to the main carrier member 30, cause the front guide link 34 to move upwardly with the seat, raising the upper end of auxiliary carrier member .32, and in turn cause the pivot pin 46 to move upwardly and forwardly. The pivot pin 46 is restrained from such movement by the shape of slot 74.

The slot 74 of the sequencing arrangement 4d thus insures that the only rearward movement of the bodysupporting unit 22 from the first intermediate position of FIG. 2 will be a turning movement about the fixed pivot 42. Since the body-supporting unit is at this point rigidly coupled to the main carrier member 3% by on gagement of the rear guide link 36 with the stop member 70 and engagement of the auxiliary carrier member with stop member 53, the main carrier member 3 3 and body-supporting unit 22 turn as a unit during the second motion phase. That is to say, the main carrier member 30 turns upwardly and rearwardly about its fixed pivot 42, rising above the supporting cross-bar 16, and carryin the body-supporting unit in the same turning motion. The body-supporting unit 22 therefore tilts rearwardiy about the fixed pivot 42 during the second motion phase until the unit reaches the second intermediate reclined position of FIG. 3.

The second intermediate position is determined by engagement of the main carrier member 30 with the lower surface of the cross-bar 18, the latter restraining further upward movement of said main carrier member. This position of the body-supporting unit represents an inactive reclined position in which the occupants body is more horizontally-disposed for relaxation.

In moving through the second motion phase, the pivot pin 46 turns through a circular path about the fixed pivot 42 and travels upwardly to the top of slot 74. T he eg-rest 54 travels upwardly with the seat 24 and the auxiliary carrier member 32 and control link 64 travei upwardly with the main carrier member 30, so that there is no relative movement of these parts and the leg-rest 54 is maintained at the same extended position reiative to the seat that it had in the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2.

When the occupant of the chair inthe second intermediate position of FIG. 3 wishes to move to an even more reclined position, he applies his weight further rearwardly on the back-rest 26 and the body-supporting unit 22 moves through a third motion phase to the fullyreclined position of FIG. 4. In this motion phase, the body-supporting unit turns relative to the stationary main carrier member 30, the unit 22 turning about its pivotal connection 52 with the rear guide link 36.

As the forward end of the seat 22 moves upwardly, it carries the front guide link 34 in an upward direction, the latter lifting the end of the auxiliary carrier member 32 at pivot 46. Since the main guide link 3% is restrained from upward movement by its engagement with the cross-bar 18, the auxiliary carrier member 32 pivots upwardly and forwardly, being raised from the stop member 58, and forms a more obtuse angle with the front guide link 34, permitting the front end of the seat to rise relative to the main carrier member 30.

During this third motion phase, the pivot pin 46 moves forwardly and upwardly through the slot extension 76 of the sequencing arrangement 40. The fully-tilted position of FIG. 4 is determined by engagement of the pivot pin 46 with the forward end of the slot extension 76, this engagement preventing the front guide link 34 from moving further upwardly and therefore halting the upward movement of the seat 22.

As the seat 24 is tilted about pivot 52 through the third motion phase, the front guide link 34 is raised with the seat through its pivotal mount 43, in turn raising the lower end of the control link 64 by the same degree. The pivot 60 is, however, raised by a greater distance since it is spaced further from the pivot 52. The control link 64 therefore performs a restraining action on the hanger bar 56 at point 62, and therefore causes said hanger bar to turn downwardly slightly about its pivotal mount 60 on the seat. Consequently, in the fully-reclined position of FIG. 4, the leg-rest 54 is inclined further downwardly and is located at a lower level, relative to the forward end of the seat, than it assumed in the second intermediate reclined position of FIG. 3. In the fully-reclined position, therefore, the leg-rest has been brought to a proper leg-supporting position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a similar reclining chair also made in accordance with the invention but incorporating a modified type of control structure. Silmilar reference numerals are employed for like parts, except that the numerals in these figures form part of a series.

The chair shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 again includes a support frame having spaced, opposed side walls 112 and 114- interconnected by cross bars 116, 118 and 12%, as well as a body-supporting unit 122 which comprises a seat 124 and a back-rest 126 formed rigidly with each other.

Control means are again provided to mount the bodysupporting unit 122 on the support frame 110 for rearward movement through a first motion phase to the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 6, then through a second motion phase to a second intermediate reclined position corresponding to that shown previously in FIG. 3, and finally through a third motion phase to the fullyreclined position corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 4.

The control means includes a main carrier member 139 which is mounted at its rear end on the support frame 11% by a fixed pivot 142. The lower end of an auxiliary carrier member 132 is mounted at its lower end on the front end of the main carrier member 130 by pivot 144'. A front guide link 13 3 is mounted on the free end portion of the auxiliary carrier member 132 by pivot 14 6, and is connected to the forward end portion of the seat 124 by pivot 1-48. A rear guide link 136 is mounted on the rear end portion of the main carrier member 13% by pivot 142 which also mounts said main carrier member 13% on the support frame 110. The upper end of the rear guide link 136 is connected by pivot 152 to the rear portion of the seat 124-.

In the upright sitting position of the body-supporting unit 122 shown in FIG. 5, the seat 124 is supported by the cross bar 118 While the forward end of the main carrier member 130 is supported by the cross-bar 116 in a substantially horizontal immovable position extending forwardly from the fixed pivot 142. The auxiliary carrier member 132 is also maintained in an immovable rearwardly-inclined position by a stop member 153 formed rigidly with the main carrier member 130.

The chair structure also includes a leg-rest 154 carried by a leg-rest control linkage designated generally by the reference numeral 157. The leg-rest control linkage 157 includes a first pair of links 156 and 186 mounted at spaced points on the forward portion of the seat 124 by respective pivots 16b and 184. A second pair of links 181) and are connected to spaced points on the legrest 154 by respective pivots 182 and 192. The free ends of links 156 and 181 are connected. by pivot 178, while the free ends of links 186 and 190 are connected by pivot 188. The link 1% crosses over the link 1% and is connected thereto at the crossing-over point by pivot 194.

A leg-rest control link 154 is connected at one end to the link 156 by pivot 162. The other end of said legrest control link 164 is connected to the free end of the auxiliary carrier member 132 by pivot 1416 which also connects the front guide link 134 to said auxiliary carrier member 132.

In the upright sitting position of FIG. 5, the leg-rest 154- is disposed in a retracted position in which it is disposed vertically beneath the forward end portion of the seat. The control bar 164 extends upwardly and forwardly from its pivotal mount 1 -16 on the auxiliary carrier member 132 to its pivotal connection 162 with the leg-rest structure.

When the occupant of the chair shifts his weight rearwardly against the back-rest 126, the body-supporting unit 122 is moved rearwardly through a first motion phase to the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 6. During this first motion phase, the main carrier mem ber 130 and the auxiliary carrier member 132 remain stationary resting upon their respective supports 116 and 153. The front and rear guide members 134 and 136 pivot rearwardly about their respective stationary pivotal mounts 146 and 142 to carry the body-supporting unit rearwardly, moving said body-supporting unit in a compound motion whereby it is moved toward the rear and also reclined rearwardly.

The first motion phase is terminated at the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 6 by engagement of the rear guide link 136 with the rear cross bar 120. Further rearward pivoting movement of the guide links 134 and 136 relative to the carrier members 130 and 132 is thus stopped, and further movement of the body-supporting unit 122 is limited to a simple pivoting movement with the main carrier member 130 about the fixed pivot 142 in a second motion phase,

As the body-supporting unit 122 is moved through the first motion phase, the forward end of the seat 24 is moved rearwardly relative to the stationary carrier members 130 and 132, carrying with it the leg-rest control linkage 157 and leg-rest 154. The seat 124 carries the pivot 169 rearwardly relative to the control link 164, and the latter restrains rearward movement of the link 156 at its point of connection 162. The link 156 thus turns about pivot 162 in a forward and upward direction, causing the legrest control linkage to raise the leg-rest 154 to the extended position shown in FIG. 6. Thus, in the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 6, the leg-rest 154 has been brought to its desired leg-supporting position in which it is almost at the level of the forward end of the seat. As the leg-rest 154 is raised by the link 156, the links 186 and 190 operate to turn the leg-rest about pivot 182 to the substantially horizontal position shown in FIG. 6.

When the occupant of the chair in the first intermediate active position of FIG. 6 wishes to assume a more reclined position for greater relaxation, he need merely shift his weight further rearwardly against the back-rest 126, causing the unit to tilt from the first intermediate position to a second intermediate position corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3. This tilting movement constitutes the second motion phase of the unit 122. In this movement, a sequencing arrangement 140 is again provided to insure that the body-supporting unit will turn about the fixed pivot 142 rather than about the pivotal connection 152 of the seat with the rear guide link 136.

The sequencing arrangement 140 comprises a plate 172 secured to the support frame 110 and having a slot 174 formed as a circle segment with a radius equal to the distance between said slot 174 and the fixed pivot 142. The upper end of slot 174 communicates with a slot extension 176 which is inclined upwardly and forwardly.

The pivot 146, mounting the front guide link 134 on the auxiliary carrier member 132, is again in the form of a pin slidable in the slot 174 and extension 176. In the upright sitting position and first intermediate tilted position shown in FIGS. and 6, the pivot pin 146 is located at the lower end portion of the slot 174. When the bodysupporting unit is moved through the second motion phase, the movement of pivot pin 146 is restricted to a sliding upward movement through slot 174, the latter restricting movement of the body-supporting unit to a simple pivoting movement about the fixed pivot 142.

During the second motion phase, the main carrier member 130 and body-supporting unit 122 turn as a unit about the fixed pivot 142. The main carrier member 130 turns upwardly and rearwardly about said pivot 142, rising above the supporting cross-bar 116, and carrying the body-supporting unit in the same turning motion through the auxiliary carrier member 132 and front guide link 134. The body-supporting unit 122 therefore tilts rearwardly about the fixed pivot 142 during the second motion phase until the unit reaches the second intermediate reclined position, corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 3.

The second intermediate position is determined by engagement of the main carrier member with the lower surface of the cross-bar 118, the latter restraining further upward movement of said main carrier member. This position of the body-supporting unit represents an inactive reclined position in which the occupants body is more horizontally-disposed for relaxation.

In moving through the second motion phase, the pivot pin 146 travels upwardly to the top of slot 174. The leg-rest 54 is carried upwardly with the seat 124 and the auxiliary carrier member 132 and control link 164 travel upwardly with the main carrier member 130, so that there is no relative movement of these parts and the leg-rest 154 in the second intermediate reclined position is disposed at the same extended position relative to the seat that it had in the first intermediate tilted position of FIG. 6.

When the occupant of the chair in the second intermediate position wishes to move to an even more reclined position, he applies his weight further rearwardly on the back-rest 126 and the body-supporting unit 122 moves through a third motion phase to a fully-reclined position corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 4. In this motion phase, the body-supporting unit 122 turns about its pivotal connection 152 with the rear guide link 136, relative to the stationary main carrier member 130.

As the forward end of the seat 22 moves upwardly during the third motion phase, it carries the front guide link 134 in an upward direction, the latter lifting the end of the auxiliary carrier member 132 at pivot 146. Since the main guide link 130 is restrained from upward movement by its engagement with the cross-bar 118, the auxiliary carrier member 132 pivots upwardly and forwardly, being raised from the stop member 153, and forms a more obtuse angle with the front guide link 134, permitting the front end of the seat to rise relative to the main carrier member 130.

During this third motion phase, the pivot pin 146 moves forwardly and upwardly through the slot extension 176 of the sequencing arrangement 140. The fully-reclined position is determined by engagement of the pivot pin 146 with the forward end of the slot extension 176, this engagement preventing the front guide link 134 from moving further upwardly and therefore halting the upward movement of the seat 122.

As the body-supporting unit turns about pivot 152 during the third motion phase, the leg-rest link 156 is raised by the seat 124 to a greater degree than is the leg-rest control link 164. Consequently, during this third motion phase, the control link 164 pulls downwardly slightly upon the leg-rest control linkage 157, lowering the legrest 154 by a small amount. In the fully-reclined position, therefore, the leg-rest is located in at a lower level relative to the seat than it assumes in the second intermediate reclined position.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in said invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a reclining chair having a support frame and a body-supporting unit comprising a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, control means movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame and guiding the same through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to a first intermediate tilted position, through a second motion phase to a second intermediate reclined position and through a third motion phase to a fully-reclined position, said control means including a main carrier member pivotally mounted at its rear end on the support frame and extending forwardly beneath the seat, means supporting said main carrier in an immovable position during said first motion phase, an auxiliary carrier member pivotally mounted on the front end portion of said main carrier member, means supporting the auxiliary carrier member in an immovable position relative to said main carrier member during the first and second motion phases, a front guide link pivotally mounted on the auxiliary carrier member and pivotally connected to the forward portion of the seat, a rear guide means operatively mounting the rear portion of the seat on the support frame, the front and rear guide means moving relative to the support frame and to the stationary main carrier member and auxiliary carrier member to guide the body-supporting unit rearwardly in the first motion phase, stop means engaging the guide means at the end of the first motion phase to halt further movement thereof relative to the main carrier member and auxiliary carrier member and provide a lost motion movement of the main carrier member about its pivotal mount on the support frame in the second motion phase, stop means on the support frame engaging the carrier member at the end of the second motion phase to halt further movement of the carrier member about its pivotal mount, the bodysupporting unit then turning about the rear guide means in the second motion phase in which the forward portion of the seat raises the front guide link and the latter causes the auxiliary carrier member to turn about its pivotal mount on the carrier member in a lost motion movement permitting the forward portion of the seat to be elevated.

2. In a reclining chair having a support frame and a body-supporting unit comprising a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, control means movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame and guiding the same through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to a first intermediate tilted position, through second motion phase to a second intermediate reclined position and through a third motion phase to a fully-reclined position, said control means including a main carrier member pivotally mounted at its rear end on the support frame and extending forwardly beneath the seat, means on the support frame supporting said main carrier member in an immovable position during said first motion phase, an auxiliary carrier member pivotally mounted on the front end portion of said main carrier member, means on the main carrier member engaging said auxiliary carrier member and supporting the latter immovably relative to the main carrier member during said first and second motion phases, the auxiliary carrier member extending upwardly and rearwardly from its pivotal mount in said immovable position, a front guide link pivotally mounted on the auxiliary carrier member and pivotally connected to the forward portion of the seat, a rear guide link pivotally mounted on the rear portion of the main carrier member and pivotally connected to the rear portion of the seat, the guide links being movable rearwardly during the first motion phase on the stationary main and auxiliary carrier members to carry the body-supporting unit to its first intermediate tilted position, stop means engaging the rear guide link at said first intermediate tilted position to limit further simultaneous movement of the guide links in the first motion phase and for coupling said guide links rigidly with said main carrier member, the main carrier member being then turnable in a lost motion movement about its pivotal mount on the support frame to carry the body-supporting unit through the second motion phase, and stop means limiting further upward turning movement of the main carrier member at the end of the second motion phase, the body-supporting unit being then turnable relative to the stationary main carrier member about the pivotal connection between the seat and the rear guide link through the third motion phase, the auxiliary carrier member pivoting upwardly about its pivotal mount on the main carrier member in a lost motion movement during the third motion phase to permit the forward portion of the seat to rise relative to the stationary main carrier member, as the body-supporting unit turns about its pivotal connection with the stationary rear guide link.

3. A reclining chair according to claim 2 which also includes sequencing means to limit movement in the second motion phase to turning movement of the main carrier member about its pivotal mount on the support frame.

4. A reclining chair according to claim 3 in which said sequencing means includes a guideway rigid with the support frame, the front guide link carrying a pivot pin extending slidably into said guideway, the guideway having a first section of arcuate shape with a center of curvature at the pivotal mount of the main carrier member on the support frame.

5. A reclining chair according to claim 4 in which said guideway has a further section extending upwardly and forwardly from said first section for permitting movement of the auxiliary carrier member during the third motion phase.

6. A reclining chair according to claim 2 which also includes a leg-rest and leg-rest control means for moving said leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to various extended positions forwardly of the seat, said leg-rest control means comprising linkage means mounting the leg-rest on the forward end of the seat, and a control link connected to said linkage means and to said auxiliary carrier member.

7. A reclining chair according to claim 6 in which said control link is connected to said auxiliary carrier member at the pivotal connection between said auxiliary carrier member and the front guide link.

8. In a reclining chair having a support frame, a bodysupporting unit comprising a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, a leg-rest, and a structure mounting the leg-rest swingably on the forward portion of the seat for movement between a retracted and an extended position, control means movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame and guiding the same through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to a first intermediate tilted position, through a second motion phase to a second intermediate reclined position and through a third motion phase to a fully-reclined position, said control means including a main carrier member pivotally mounted at one end on the support frame, an auxiliary carrier member pivotally mounted on the other end of said main carrier member, a front guide link pivotally mounted on the auxiliary carrier member and pivotally connected to the forward portion of the seat, and a rear guide link pivotally mounted on the rear portion of the main carrier member and pivotally connected to the rear portion of the seat, the main and auxiliary carrier members being stationary during the first motion phase and the front and rear guide links turning relative to guide the body-supporting unit, the main carrier member turning about its pivotal mount on the support frame in a lost motion movement during the second motion phase, and the auxiliary carrier member turning about its pivotal mount on the main carrier member in a lost motion movement during the third motion phase, and a leg-rest control link pivotally mounted on said auxiliary carrier member and pivotally connected to the leg-rest structure for moving the leg-rest to its extended position in response to movement of said control means and of said seat.

9. A reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit comprising a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, control means movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame and guiding the same through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to a first intermediate tilted position, through a second motion phase to a second intermediate reclined position and through a third motion phase to a fully-reclined position, said control means including a main carrier member pivotally mounted at its rear end on the support frame, means on the support frame supporting said main carrier member in an immovable position during said first motion phase, an auxiliary carrier member pivotally mounted on the front end of said main carrier member, means on the main carrier member supporting the auxiliary carrier member in an immovable upwardly and rearwardly inclined position relative to the main carrier member during said first and second motion phases, a front guide link pivotally mounted on the upper end portion of the auxiliary carrier member and pivotally connected to the forward portion of the seat, and a rear guide link pivotally mounted on the rear end portion of the main carrier member and pivotally connected to the rear portion of the seat, the guide links being movable rearwardly during the first motion phase to carry the body-supporting unit to the first intermediate tilted position, the main carrier member being then turnable about its pivotal mount on the support frame in a lost motion movement to carry the body-supporting unit through the second motion phase to the second intermediate reclined position with the guide links and the auxiliary carrier member remaining immovable relative to the main carrier member during said second motion phase, the body-supporting unit being then turnable about the pivotal connection between the seat and the rear guide link during the third motion phase to the fully-reclined position with the auxiliary carrier member pivoting upwardly and forwardly about its pivotal mount on the main carrier member in a lost motion movement during said third motion phase, a leg-rest, a structure mounting the leg-rest swingably on the forward end portion of the seat for movement between a retracted and an extended position, and a control link connecting 12 said leg-rest structure to said auxiliary carrier member for movement of said leg-rest to various extended positions in response to movement of said control means.

10. A reclining chair according to claim 9 in which the control link is pivotally connected to the auxiliary carrier member co-axially with the point of connection between the auxiliary carrier member and the front guide link, the control link pushing the leg-rest structure upwardly and forwardly to raise the leg-rest to its extended position during the first motion phase in response to rearward movement of the seat relative to the immovable auxiliary carrier member.

11. A reclining chair according to claim 10 in which the control link pulls downwardly on the leg-rest structure to lower the leg-rest slightly to a further extended position during the third motion phase in response to greater upward movement of the front end of the seat relative to the upward pivoting movement of the auxiliary carrier member.

12. A reclining chair according to claim 9 in which the leg-rest structure comprises a hanger bar pivotally mounted on the front end of the seat and rigidly connected to the leg-rest.

13. A reclining chair according to claim 9 in which the leg-rest structure comprises a first pair of links pivotally connected to the front end portion of the seat, and a second pair of links pivotally connected to the first pair of links and pivotally connected at spaced points on the seat and on the leg-rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,497 Luckhardt Oct. 28, 1952 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959 2,940,509 Fletcher June 14, 1960 2,940,510 Schliephacke June 14, 1960

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