Reclining chair

Claim 1

In a reclining chair having a base, a seat, a backrest, and linkage means at each side of the chair interconnecting said backrest and seat and mounting the same on said base for movement relative thereto and to each other from a sitting position to a reclining position, the improvement wherein said linkage means includes a pair of seat-supporting links each pivoted to the base and to the seat on centers spaced from front to rear thereon to constitute therewith a four-bar linkage in which said links are inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the base to the seat in said sitting position, the backrest being pivoted to the seat, and said linkage means including a third link pivoted to the base and extending upwardly therefrom to a pivotal connection to the backrest spaced rearwardly from the pivotal connection of the backrest to the seat when the chair is in sitting position, the pivotal connection of the backrest to said third link constituting a shiftable fulcrum enabling the backrest upon recline to lift the seat, and to follow the seat forwardly of the base as the seat is lifted by the rearward rotation of the backrest into said reclining position, the said upward and rearward inclination of the seat-supporting links being maintained in all positions of the chair between said sitting and reclining positions so as to effect the return of the chair to the sitting position by the weight of the occupant as the occupant sits up to remove the force of his back against the backrest.