Abstract An essentially self-balancing reclining chair is provided. The invention may be adapted to for use by any individual, regardless of size, shape or weight. The chair has a base and two parallelogram linkages spaced apart from and facing each other in parallel vertical planes. Each parallelogram linkage has upper, lower, front and rear linkage arms pivotally connected to each other to define the parallelogram. A back support is mounted behind and between the rear linkage arms, a seat support is suspended below and between the lower linkage arms, and a leg support is suspended below and between the front linkage arms. The upper linkage arms are pivotally connected to the base, such that the chair may be balanced by positioning the pivotal connection at a position corresponding to the approximate center of gravity of the chair and an average person. The pivoting points between the back support and the seat support are aligned with the person's hip joints. The pivoting points between the seat support and the leg support are aligned with the person's knee joints. The pivoting points between the rear and upper linkage arms are at the center of a quarter circle defined by the person's center of gravity in moving from an upright to horizontal position.
A reclining mechanism for a chair, said reclining mechanism comprising: two parallelogram linkages spaced apart from and facing each other in parallel vertical planes, each said parallelogram linkage comprising upper, lower, front and rear linkage arms pivotally connected to each other at pivot points, said pivot points constituting the corners of a parallelogram; a back mounted behind a transverse plane defined by each of the pivot points of said rear linkage arms and between said rear linkage arms in a fixed relationship therewith; a seat suspended below a transverse plane defined by each of the pivot points of said lower linkage arms and between said lower linkage arms in a fixed relationship therewith; said front linkage arms having extensions reaching downwardly and forwardly; a leg support suspended below and between said extensions in a fixed relationship therewith, behind and below a transverse plane defined by each of the pivot points of said front, linkage arms; and pivotal means for providing sole support for the chair at each upper linkage arm, alignable with a center of gravity of the chair with a person sitting therein, and substantially in alignment with the pivot points at each end of said upper linkage arms.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A reclining mechanism for a chair, said reclining mechanism comprising: two parallelogram linkages spaced apart from and facing each other in parallel vertical planes, each said parallelogram linkage comprising upper, lower, front and rear linkage arms pivotally connected to each other at pivot points, said pivot points constituting the corners of a parallelogram; a back mounted behind a transverse plane defined by each of the pivot points of said rear linkage arms and between said rear linkage arms in a fixed relationship therewith; a seat suspended below a transverse plane defined by each of the pivot points of said lower linkage arms and between said lower linkage arms in a fixed relationship therewith; said front linkage arms having extensions reaching downwardly and forwardly; a leg support suspended below and between said extensions in a fixed relationship therewith, behind and below a transverse plane defined by each of the pivot points of said front, linkage arms; and pivotal means for providing sole support for the chair at each upper linkage arm, alignable with a center of gravity of the chair with a person sitting therein, and substantially in alignment with the pivot points at each end of said upper linkage arms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A reclining chair, comprising a chair base pivotally supporting the reclining mechanism of claim 1 at said pivotal means for providing support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
A reclining chair as recited in claim 2, further comprising a control arm on at least one of said parallelogram linkages, pivotally connected at one end thereof at said pivot point between said lower linkage arm and said rear linkage arm, and at the other end thereof at a point fixed with respect to said chair base and corresponding to the center of an arc described by the movement with respect to said chair base of said pivot point between said lower linkage arm and said rear linkage arm.