Reclining chair

Claim 1

A chair comprising a substantially rigid chair frame, means supporting the chair frame in a normally upright position on and relative to the floor, said chair frame including vertically extending left and right hand side members, a horizontally extending seat frame located between the side members, a normally vertically extending back frame at the rear of the chair frame and extending upwardly above the seat and chair frame, left and right hand rear swing links, first pivot means pivoting said rear swing links to said left and right hand side members respectively of said chair frame for pivoting about a rear horizontal axis located above said seat frame, second pivot means pivoting lower portions of said rear swing links to the left and right hand sides respectively of the seat frame at the rear thereof whereby the rear of said seat frame is supported and suspended by said rear swing links for pivotal movement about said horizontal axis, weight of the seat frame and of a chair occupant when not leaning against the back frame being centered forwardly of said rear horizontal axis and providing a moment tending to pivot the swing links on the first pivot means so that the second pivot means moves toward the rear of the chair, left and right hand front swing links pivoted respectively to left and right hand sides of said seat frame at the front thereof, said front swing links extending downwardly from the seat frame and being pivoted to said chair frame for pivoting about a front horizontal axis located below the seat frame, said seat frame being movable forwardly and upwardly on said front and rear swing links, means securing the back frame to said rear swing links above said rear horizontal axis and so that back pressure of a chair occupant on said back frame pivots said rear swing links on said first pivot means to produce recline movement of the back frame and corresponding forward and upward movement of the seat frame, said back frame and rear swing links being movable together between a position wherein the back frame is upright and a position wherein it is fully reclined, left and right hand counterbalance coil tension springs connected between said chair frame and the respective front swing links to be energized by movement of the front swing links and to provide spring assistance to return movement of the back frame toward an upright position, and left and right hand spring connector link means operatively connecting respectively the front ends of said counterbalance springs to the left and right hand front swing links adjacent the tops thereof and serving to reduce the amount of extension of the springs as compared with that which would occur if the springs were anchored directly on the front swing links.