Power-operated chair

Claim 1

A chair including a back rest, a seat rest, and a leg rest; hinge means respectively positioned adjacent opposite sides of said rests and pivotally connecting the back rest to the rear portion of said seat rest and pivotally connecting the leg rest to the front portion of the seat rest; a pair of extensionS fixed rigidly to and depending from the pivoted end of said back rest respectively adjacent the inner side edges of said hinge means at opposite sides of said seat rest and back rest and extending beyond the pivot axes of said hinge means; power means comprising an electric motor and speed reduction unit supported beneath said seat rest adjacent one side thereof, a screw jack interconnected at one end to said motor for actuation thereby and the opposite end of said screw jack being connected to the extension on said back rest adjacent said one side of said seat rest and operable to move said back rest between substantially upright and horizontal positions relative to said seat rest; and linkage means beneath said seat rest supported for movement adjacent the other side thereof and connected between said other extension on said back rest adjacent said other side of seat rest and including a bar slidably supported within guide bearing means fixed to said seat rest, and links pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said bar and the opposite ends of said links respectively being connected to said other extension and said leg rest and operable automatically by movement of said back rest by said power means to move said leg rest relative to said seat rest between substantially vertically depending and horizontal positions, respectively when said back rest is moved between said upright and horizontal positions thereof.