Reclining chair with constrained linkage

Claim 2

In a reclining chair of the multiple movement type having an arm frame, a seat, a backrest and a leg rest, a mounting linkage operatively mounting said seat, backrest and leg rest in said arm frame for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and through a second movement phase to a fully reclined position, the improvement Comprising, in combination, said mounting linkage having first constraining means completely constraining the movement of said linkage and said seat, backrest and leg rest during the movement of said chair, second and further constraining means operative during at least a portion of the movement of said chair constraining elements of said linkage to follow a path of movement closely adjacent to the path of constraint of said first constraining means, said linkage having flexibility sufficient for said first and second constraining means to operate simultaneously.

Claim 3

a said second constraining means includes a seven-bar linkage acting during at least a portion of said first movement phase, as a second, effective, four-bar linkage, having: a. said arm frame as a stationary link, b. a holding link pivotally connected to said arm frame and serving as a first movable link, c. a backrest link as a second movable link pivoted to said arm frame at a point rearwardly from said first movable link, and d. said body-supporting unit as an effective third movable link, said first and second movable links pivotally connected at two points respectively, one on said seat and one on said backrest, said seat and backrest between said two points, remaining substantially rigid during said first movement phase,

Claim 4

a said second constraining means includes a seven-bar linkage acting during at least a portion of said first movement phase, as a second, effective, four-bar linkage, having: a. said arm frame as a stationary link, b. a holding link pivotally connected to said arm frame and serving as a first movable link, c. a backrest link as a second movable link pivoted to said arm frame at a point rearwardly from said first movable link, and d. said body-supporting unit as an effective third movable link, said first and second movable links pivotally connected at two points respectively, one on said seat and one on said backrest, said seat and backrest between said two points, remaining substantially rigid during said first movement phase,

Claim 5

In a reclining chair of the multiple movement type having an arm frame, a seat, a backrest and a leg rest, a mounting linkage operatively mounting said seat, backrest and leg rest in said arm frame for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and through a second movement phase to a fully reclined position, the improvement comprising, in combination, said mounting linkage having first constraining means completely constraining the movement of said linkage and said seat, backrest and leg rest during the movement of said chair, second and further constraining means controlling elements of said linkage and constraining them during at least a portion of the movement of said linkage to move along a path of movement slightly different from the path which would result from the sole influence of said first constraining means, said linkage having sufficient flexibility for said first and second constraining means to be operatively simultaneously with elements of said linkage under the influence of both of said first and second constraining means.

Claim 6

In a reclining chair of the multiple movement type having an arm frame, a seat, a backrest and a leg rest, a mounting linkage operatively mounting said seat, backrest and leg rest in said arm frame for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and through a second movement phase to a fully reclined position, the improvement comprising, in combination, said mounting linkage having first constraining means completely constraining the movement of said linkage and said seat, backrest and leg rest during the movement of said chair, second and further constraining means controlling elements of said linkage and constraining them during at least a portion of the movement of said linkage to move along a path of movement slightly different from the path which would result from the sole influence of said first constraining means, said linkage having sufficient flexibility for said first and second constraining means to be operatively simultaneously with elements of said linkage under the influence of both of said first and second constraining means.

Claim 7

A reclining chair in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said first constraining means comprises a four-bar linkage connected between said arm frame and one of said seat and backrest.

Claim 8

said seven-bar linkage acting as a six-bar linkage operable during said second movement phase to open the including angle between seat and backrest and having: a. said arm frame as a stationary link, b. said seat as a first movable link, c. said backrest as a second movable link pivotally connected to said first movable link, d. a bellcrank lever having three pivot points as a third movable link pivotally connected at a first one of its pivot points to said seat, and e. a connecting link as a fourth movable link pivotally connected at one end to sAid bellcrank lever at a second one of its pivots and to said second movable link at a point spaced from the pivot connection between said first and second movable links, a holding link pivotally connected at one end to said arm frame and at its other end to said bellcrank lever at its third pivot point.

Claim 9

said seven-bar linkage acting as a six-bar linkage operable during said second movement phase to open the including angle between seat and backrest and having: a. said arm frame as a stationary link, b. said seat as a first movable link, c. said backrest as a second movable link pivotally connected to said first movable link, d. a bellcrank lever having three pivot points as a third movable link pivotally connected at a first one of its pivot points to said seat, and e. a connecting link as a fourth movable link pivotally connected at one end to sAid bellcrank lever at a second one of its pivots and to said second movable link at a point spaced from the pivot connection between said first and second movable links, a holding link pivotally connected at one end to said arm frame and at its other end to said bellcrank lever at its third pivot point.

Claim 10

A reclining chair in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second and further constraining means comprises an effective four-bar linkage connected between said arm frame and one of said seat and backrest.

Claim 11

A reclining chair in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first constraining means includes: