Chair for handicapped persons

Claim 1

A chair construction for use by handicapped persons comprising: a relatively rigid frame element and a movable seat element; said frame element including a plurality of frame members providing a fixed horizontal platform at normal seat height and a fixed back cushion disposed in generally vertical orientation at one side of said platform; a seat bottom cushion mounted on said platform for pivotal movement on an axis parallel to an adjacent rear transverse edge thereof; a plurality of resiliently compressible members interconnecting said frame element and an under surface of said bottom cushion forwardly of said axis; a pair of arm rests each including a pivotally interconnected horizontal and vertical strut; said horizontal strut being pivotally connected at the rear end thereof to said back cushion, said vertical strut being connected at a lower end to said seat cushion forwardly of said resiliently compressible members; and such chair construction further characterized in the provision of adjustable means for shifting the points of interconnection of said resiliently compressible members along a forward-rearward axis to vary the distance of said points relative to said first mentioned axis, and thereby vary the effective force on said bottom cushion necessary to move said bottom cushion to horizontal condition; whereby upward movement of said seat cushion results in corresponding movement of said arm rests; and locking means manually controllable from said arm rests for fixing the position against the compressive force of said resiliently comrpessible elements.