US3134624A

US3134624A - Reclining chair having improved legrest control arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3134624A
Application number: US77699A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lorenz Anton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-12-22
Filing date: 1960-12-22
Publication date: 1964-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1981-05-26

Description

A. LORENZ 3,134,624 RECLINING CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED LEG-REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT May 26, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1960 FIG. 2.

INV EN TOR. AN TO/V Z 0 26' V Z May 26, 1964 LQRENZ 3,134,624

RECLINING CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED LEG-REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 FIG. 3. flu

/22 INVENTOR.

A/V TON L OPE/VZ prram evs A. LORENZ May 26, 1-964 RECLINING CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED LEG-REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR. ANTON A oez/vz e-rraklvsvs A. LORENZ May 26, 1964 RECLINING CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED LEG-REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.'7.

w mu 4 a m y a a m 1 MA M .y. T m M m w" 4 00 I I m y F a x 2 a U May 26, 1964 A. LORENZ 3,134,624

RECLINING CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED LEG-REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 22, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. J22 ANTON A OP'A/Z 47 TORNAYS United States Patent ()fi ice 3,134,624 Patented May 26, 1964 3,134,624 RECLINING CHAIR HAVING IMPROVED LEG- REST CONTROL ARRANGEMENT Anton Lorenz, Ocean Ridge, Boynton Beach, Fla. Filed Dec. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 77,699 5 Claims. (Cl. 297-89) The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs, and in particular to an improved leg-rest control arrangement for a reclining chair of the type including a body-supporting means having a seat and back-rest movably mounted on a support and a leg-rest coordinated to move to an elevated leg-supporting position in response to the movement of the body-supporting means relative to the support.

The well known reclining chair includes a support, body-supporting means movably mounted on the support, and a leg-rest normally disposed in a stored position and movable to an elevated leg-supporting position incident to the movement of the body-supporting means into a fully reclined position. The body-supporting means may have either a unitary or rigid body-supporting unit to provide a so-called rester type of chair or may have a separate seat and separate back-rest mounted for inclining and reclining movement respectively to provide a socalled recliner type of chair. The body-supporting means and the leg-rest are coordinated to each other such that for each increment of movement of the body-supporting means rearwardly and towards the fully reclined position, there is a corresponding movement of the leg-rest toward the elevated leg-supporting position such that when the body-supporting means moves into the fully reclined position, the leg-rest arrives at the requisite elevated, legsupporting position. In a typical chair, the back-rest of the body-supporting means is disposed at an angle of approximately 45 to the floor line in the fully reclined position, while the leg-rest swings to a position substantially horizontal and parallel to the floor line. As a practical matter, the leg-rest should not move appreciably beyond a horizontal attitude relative to the floor line, or beyond a prescribed location in relation to the seat in that the legs of the chair occupant should be accommodated in an elevated, but slightly bent, position for optimum comfort. Although there are a number of intermediate positions between the sitting position and the fully reclined position in the usual reclining chair, as a practical matter the only position appropriate for proper relaxation is the fully reclined position or one relatively close thereto wherein the leg-rest is sufiiciently elevated to appropriately support the legs of the chair occupant.

With the recent development of the multiple movement reclining chair which provides for first and second movement phases and an intermediate, tilted sitting position wherein the leg-rest has moved to an elevated leg-supporting position, further problems are presented in establishing a control for the leg-rest of the chair. In such multiple movement chairs of either the rester or recliner types, the body-supporting means moves during a first movement phase from a sitting position in which the legrest is stored to an intermediate, tilted sitting position wherein the leg-rest is in an elevated leg-supporting position. Then the body-supporting means moves through a second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position through various reclining positions and into a fully reclined position during which the leg-rest should remain appropriately oriented relative to the body-supporting means. In such multiple movement chairs, it is important that the leg-rest not be over elevated or extended as the chair moves through the second movement phase from the intermediate, tilted sitting position to the fully reclined position. In many instances, it is advantageous if the leg-rest may be essentially independently controlled such that it will move upwardly at a different rate relative to the body-supporting means in the second movement phase or in fact move in a direction opposite to the body-supporting means during such second movement phase to maintain an appropriate orientation relative to the floor line and/ or to the body-supporting means for comfortably accommodating the legs of the chair occupant.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reclining chair of the multiple position or movement type which is capable of attaining an infinite number of intermediate positions in which the chair occupant is accommodated in a tilted attitude, with the occupants legs supported in an elevated leg-supporting position appropriately oriented to the body-supporting means and to the floor line for optimum comfort. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved leg-rest control arrangement for a reclining chair which enables the substantially continuous movement through a number of intermediate positions wherein the body-supporting means and the leg-rest are optimumly positioned relative to each other and to the chair frame or support for comfortably accommodating the chair occupant in attitudes appropriate for television viewing, reading, sewing or the like and/ or complete relaxation.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demon strating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a reclining chair -which comprises a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, and mounting means operatively connected to and mounting the body-supporting means on the support for movement through first and second movement phases. The mounting means includes a carrier member which is mounted on the support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a supporting member which is mounted on the support for turning movement about a supporting pivot, means including a lost motion interconnection connecting the supporting member to the carrier member, and guiding means movably mounting the body-supporting means on the support. Disposed beneath the seat is a leg-rest which is mounted by a leg-rest mounting linkage operatively connected to at least the supporting member and to the leg-rest for movement from the stored position into an elevated leg-supporting position during the first movement phase. An actuating means is operatively connected to the bodysupporting means and to the leg-rest mounting linkage and is operative during the first movement phase to move the leg-rest to the elevated leg-supporting position. The carrier and supporting members remain stationary during the first movement phase and the guiding means moves relative thereto to guide the body-supporting means into the intermediate, tilted sitting position. The carrier and supporting members turn about the carrier and supporting pivots respectively during the second movement phase and move relative to each other to guide the body-supporting means into a fully reclined position and to adjust the elevated leg-supporting position of the leg-rest relative to the body-supporting means and to the support. Advantageously, the elevation of the leg-rest during the second movement phase may be independent of the inclination or tilting of the bodysupporting means during such said second movement phase such that an appropriate orientation of the legrest relative to the body-supporting means may be maintained or established.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of several presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments according to the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair embodying features of the present invention, shown with one side thereof removed and illustrated in the upright or sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in an intermediate, tilted sitting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the chair in a fully reclined position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of reclining chair demonstrating further features of the present invention and illustrated in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair in a fully reclined position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a still further embodiment of reclining chair embodying still further features of the present invention and illustrated in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the chair in the fully reclined position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a still further embodiment of reclining chair demonstrating still further features of the present invention and illustrated in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the chair in the intermediate, tilted sitting position; and,

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 9, but showing the chair in the fully reclined position.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a support or frame 12 having

opposite side walls

14, 16 interconnected by

suitable cross braces

18, 20 and supported on depending legs 22.

A body-supporting means, generally designated by the reference numeral 24 and including a seat 26 and a backrest 28, is mounted on the support 12 for movement from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 through a first movement phase into an intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 and from the intermediate, tilted sitting position through an infinite number of reclining positions to the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 3. In this illustrative embodiment, the seat 26 and the back-rest 28 are rigid with each other to provide a reclining chair of the rester type.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 26 is a leg-rest 30 which is mounted on a double four-bar or lazy tong type of leg-rest mounting linkage 32, to be subsequently described in detail, for movement from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 1 to various elevated leg-supporting positions, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the leg-rest is appropriately oriented relative to the body-supporting unit 24 and/or to the floor line or support 12 to accommodate the legs of the chair occupant in an elevated, but slightly bent position.

A mounting means, generally designated by the reference numeral 34 is provided for mounting the bodysupporting unit 24 on the support 12 for movement through the respective first and second movement phases. The mounting means 34 includes a carrier member or link 36 which extends fore and aft of the chair frame 12 and has a carrier pivot 38 at its rearward end on the support 12. The carrier member 36 remains stationary during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2, and turns in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivot 38 during the second movement phase, as will be described. The mounting means further include a supporting member or link 40 which is upwardly and forwardly inclined from its lower end to its upper end and has a supporting pivot 42 at its lower end on the support. The supporting member 40 remains stationary during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 1 and 2, and turns in the clockwise direction about the supporting pivot 42 during the second movement phase, as will subsequently be described. The supporting member or link 40 is connected to the carrier member or link 36 by a lost motion interconnection which includes an elongated slot 44 formed in the supporting member 40 adjacent the upper end thereof which receives a pin 46 mounted on the forward end of the carrier member 36. In the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 and throughout the first movement phase, the pin 46 remains at the lower end of the slot 44 and the weight of the body-supporting unit 24 and of the chair occupant maintains the carrier member 36 and the supporting member 40 in the relationship illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 until such time as the carrier member is turned in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivot 38, as will occur during the second movement phase of the chair.

The body-supporting unit 24 is movably mounted on the carrier member 36 which efiectively serves as a stationary link or support during the first movement phase by a front guiding link 48 which has a front pivotal mount 50 on the carrier member 36 at a point spaced rearwardly of the pin 46 and a front pivotal connection 52 to the seat 26 and by a rear guiding link 54 which has a rear pivotal mount to the support coaxially with the carrier pivot 38 and a rear pivotal connection 58 to the rearward portion of the body-supporting unit 24 at a point spaced from the front pivotal connection 52. This arrangement will be recognized as providing a four-bar guiding linkage for movably mounting the body-supporting unit 24 on the carrier member 36 for movement relative thereto during the first movement phase which includes as a stationary link the portion of the carrier member 36 intermediate the

pivotal mounts

38, 50 and as the movable links thereof the front guiding link 48, a portion of the body-supporting unit 24 intermediate the front and rear

pivotal connections

52, 58, and the rear guiding link 54.

Provision is made for blocking at least one of the front and rear guiding

links

48, 54 against movement relative to the carrier member 36 and the supporting member 40 when the body-supporting unit 24 moves into the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2. In this illustrative arrangement, the rear guiding link 54 contacts the rear cross brace 20 serving as a stop such that during the second movement phase the body-supporting unit 24 turns about the rear pivotal connection 58 serving as a stationary pivotal mount. This turning movement of the body-supporting unit 24 about the rear pivotal connection 58 during the second movement phase is imparted to the carrier member 36 and to the supporting link 40 via the front guiding link 48 serving as a connecting link such that both the carrier member 36 and supporting member 40 likewise turn in the clockwise direction about their

respective pivots

38, 42 during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3.

An initial sitting position for the body-supporting unit 24 relative to the carrier member 36 is established by a stop 60 (see FIG. 1) on the forward end of the carrier member 36 which underlies the front guiding link 48. The stop 6t determines the initial position for the front guiding link 48 and precludes turning movement of the front guiding link except in the desired clockwise direction about the front pivotal mount 50 as is required incident to the movement of the body-supporting unit 24 into the intermediate, tilted sitting and fully reclined positions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The leg-rest mounting linkage 32 includes a first pair of mounting

links

62, 64 having a pivotal connection 66 at their adjacent ends and a second pair of mounting

links

68, 70 having a pivotal interconnection 72 at their adjacent ends. The mounting link 62 has a pivotal mount 74 at its upper end on the seat 26. Intermediate its ends the mounting link 62 crosses over the mounting link 70 and has a coordinating pivotal connection 76 thereto. The mounting link 68 has a pivotal mount 78 at its upper end on the upper and forward end of the supporting link 40. The mounting link 64 has a pivotal connection 80 at its forward end to the leg-rest 30, while the mounting link 70 has a pivotal connection 82 at its forward end to the leg-rest 30 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 80. The described arrangement will be recognized as a lazy tong type of the leg-rest mounting linkage but other leg-rest mounting arrangements including two or more pairs of mounting links may be employed in accordance with the present invention to movably mount the leg-rest with a first pivotal mount on the seat and a second pivotal mount on the suporting link 40.

An actuating means is operatively connected to the body-supporting unit 24 and to the leg-rest mounting linkage 32 and is effective during the first movement phase to move the leg-rest 30 from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the actuating means takes the form of an actuating link 84 which has its upper end pivotally connected to the seat 26 at the pivotal mount 74 and its lower end pivotally connected to the mounting link 68 at a pivotal connection 86 which is spaced from the pivotal mount 78.

During the first movement phase, the carrier member 76 and the supporting member 40 remain stationary, such that the pivotal mount 78 of the leg-rest mounting linkage 32 is eifectively stationary. Accordingly, in response to the rearward movement of the body-supporting unit 24 from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 under the control of the four-bar guiding linkage including the front and rear guiding links 48, 54, the mounting links 68 will be turned in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 78 incident to the pulling force exerted by the actuating link 84. This swings the leg-rest 30 from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 2. During the second movement phase, the body-supporting unit 24 turns about the rear pivotal connection 58 serving as a pivotal mount and thereby exerts a pulling force via the actuating link 84 on the mounting link 68 which has a tendency to continue to turn the mounting link 68 about the pivotal mount 78. Concurrent with this turning movement of the mounting link 68 about the pivotal mount 78, the carrier and supporting

members

36, 40 turn in the clockwise direction about the carrier and supporting

pivot

38, 42 respectively. This turning movement displaces the pivotal mount 78 for the mounting link 68 upwardly and rearwardly which, concurrent with the turning movement of the mounting link 68 about its pivotal mount 78, brings about an adjustment or compensation in the elevated leg-supporting position for the leg-rest 30 during the second movement phase. This may be appreciated by progresively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein it is seen that the leg-rest 30 is maintained substantially at the same level with relation to the support or the fioor line. However, the pitch or inclination thereof is somewhat changed, with the forward end of the leg-rest being lowered and the rearward end being elevated to establish an optimum position for the leg-rest in relation to the seat 26 of the bodysupporting unit 24. It will be appreciated that by the provision of the supporting member 40 which turns in a rearward arc to displace the pivotal mount 78 of the leg-rest mounting linkage 32 towards the pivotal connection 58 during the second movement phase, there is provided a control over the elevation, extension and attitude of the leg-rest 30 which is independent of the control over 6 the tilting or reclining of the body-supporting unit 24. By appropriate selection of the parameters for the leg-rest mounting linkage and for the carrier and supporting links 36, 4t) and their respective pivotal connections, it is possible to establish and/or maintain prescribed positions for the leg-rest 30 throughout the second movement phase In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of this illustrative embodiment according to the present invention, there follows a description of a typical se quence of operations:

When the chair occupant is seated in the body-supporting unit 24 and urges his or her weight rearwardly relative to the support 10, the body-supporting unit 24 moves rearwardly with respect to the relatively stationary carrier member 36. During such first movement phase, the body-supporting unit 24 is guided by the four-bar guiding linkage which includes the front guiding link 48 and the rear guiding link 54. The body-supporting unit 24 moves into the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 2 which position is established when the rear guiding link 5'4 contacts the rear cross brace 20 serving as a stop. During such first movement phase, the leg-rest 30 is elevated incident to the turning of the mounting link 68 about the relatively stationary pivotal mount 78. Throughout the first movement phase, the weight of the chair and of the operator is elfective to maintain the pin 46 of the lost

motion connection

44, 46 at the lower end of the slot 44. When the chair arrives at the intermediate, tilted sitting of FIG. 2, the leg-rest is elevated and extended forwardly of the seat 26 and in an appropriate attitude both in relation to the body-supporting unit and to the support 12 to comfortably accommodate the legs of the chair occupant.

In response to continued rearward pressure against the body-supporting unit, the second movement phase will be initiated with the body-supporting unit 24 turning about the rear pivotal connection 53 serving as a pivotal mount. Incident to such turning movement, an upwardly directed pulling force is imparted to the carrier member 36 via the front guiding link 48 serving as a connecting link which turns both the carrier member 36 and the supporting member 40 in the clockwise direction about their respective pivots $8, 42. Incident to such movement, the pin 46 translates upwardly along the lost motion slot 44. It will be appreciated that in absence of the pin and slot interconnection there could be no relative movement between the difierent length links 36, 40 which are connected in a triangular linkage, with the portion of the support intermediate the

pivot

38, 42 efiectively serving as a stationary link and with the members 36, 4t serving as movable links of such triangular linkage. During the second movement phase the leg-rest 30 is maintained in an elevated leg-supporting position but its attitude and elevation is changed due to the movement of the pivotal mount 74 and the corresponding movement of the mounting links of the leg-rest mounting linkage 32 and the concurrent rearward displacement of the pivotal mount 78. The end of the second movement phase is established when the pin 46 on the carrier member 36 translates into contact with the upper and forward end of the lost motion slot 44 in the supporting member 40. As is generally understood, the chair will move through the reverse sequence of operations when the chair occupant urges his or her weight forwardly to move the chair first into the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 2 and then into the upright sitting position of FIG. 1.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is shown a further reclining chair demonstrating features of the present invention which includes a support or frame 112 having

opposite walls

114, 116 interconnected by suitable cross braces 118, 120 and supported on depending legs 122.

A body-supporting means, generally designated by the reference numeral 124 and including a rigidly connected seat 126 and back-rest 128 is mounted on the support 112 for movement from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 through a first movement phase into an intermediate, tilted sitting position and from the intermediate, tilted sitting position through an infinite number of reclining positions to a fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 5.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 126 is a leg-rest 130 which is mounted on a double four-bar legrest mounting linkage 132 for movement from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 4 to various elevated legsupporting positions, as shown for example in FIG. wherein the leg-rest is appropriately oriented relative to the body-supporting unit 124 and/ or to the floor line or support 112 to accommodate the legs of the chair occupant in an elevated, but slightly bent, position.

A mounting means 134 is provided for mounting the body-supporting unit 124 on the support 112 for movement through the respective first and second movement phases. The mounting means 134 includes a carrier member or link 136 which extends fore and aft of the chair frame 112 and has a carrier pivot 138 at its rearward end on the support 112. The carrier member 136 remains stationary during the first movement phase and turns in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivot 138 during the second movement phase. The mounting means further include a supporting member or link 140 which is upwardly and forwardly inclined from its lower end to its upper end and has a supporting pivot 142 at its lower end on the support. The supporting member 140 remains stationary during the first movement phase and turns in the clockwise direction about the supporting pivot 142 during the second movement phase. The supporting member or link 140 is connected to the carrier member or link 136 by a lost motion interconnection which includes an elongated slot 144 formed in the carrier member 136 adjacent the forward end thereof which receives a pin 146 mounted adjacent the upper end of the supporting member 140. In the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 and throughout the first movement phase, the pin 146 remains at the forward end of the slot 144. The weight of the body-supporting unit 124 and of the chair occupant maintains the carrier member 136 and the supporting member 140 in the relationship illustrated in FIG. 4 until such time as the carrier member 136 is turned in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivot 138 during the second movement phase.

The body-supporting unit 124 is movably mounted on the carrier member 136 which effectively serves as a stationary support during the first movement phase by a front guiding link 148 which has a front pivotal mount 150 on the carrier member 136 at a point spaced rearwardly of the slot 144 and a front pivotal connection 152 to the seat 126 and by a rear guiding link 154 which has a rear pivotal mount 156 on the support 112 at a point spaced rearwardly of the carrier pivot 138 and a rear pivotal connection 158 to the rearward portion of the body-supporting unit 124 at a point spaced from the front pivotal connection 152. This arrangement will be recognized as providing a four-bar guiding linkage for movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the support 112 and on the carrier member 136 for movement relative thereto during the first movement phase which includes as a stationary link the portion of the support and carrier member 136 intermediate the

pivotal mounts

156, 150 and as the movable links thereof the front guiding link 148, the portion of the body-supporting unit 124 intermediate the front and rear

pivotal connections

152, 158, and the rear guiding link 154.

Provision is made for blocking at least one of the front and rear guiding links 148, 154 against movement relative to the carrier member 136 and its supporting member 140 when the body-supporting unit 124 moves into the intermediate tilted sitting position. In this illustrative arrangement, the rear guiding link 154 contacts the rear cross brace 1211 serving as a stop such that during the second movement phase the body-supporting unit 124 turns about the rear pivotal connection 158 serving as a stationary pivotal mount. This turning movement of the bodysupporting unit 124 about the rear pivotal connection 158 during the second movement phase is coupled to the carrier link 136 and to the supporting link via the front guiding link 148 serving as a connecting link such that both the carrier and supporting

links

138, 140 turn in the clockwise direction about their

respective pivots

138, 142 during the second movement phase.

An initial sitting position for the body-supporting unit 124 relative to the carrier member 136 is established by a stop 160 (see FIG. 4) on the forward end of the support member 140 which underlies the front guiding link 148.

The leg-rest mounting linkage 132 includes a first pair of mounting

links

162, 164 having a pivotal connection 166 at their adjacent ends and a second pair of mounting

links

168, 170 having a pivotal connection 172 at their adjacent ends. The mounting link 162 has a pivoted mount 174 at its upper end on the seat 126. Intermediate its ends the mounting link 162 crosses over the mounting link 170 and has a coordinating pivotal connection 176 thereto. The mounting link 168 has a pivotal mount 178 at its upper end on the upper and forward end of the supporting link 140. The mounting link 164 has a pivotal connection 180 at its forward end to the leg-rest 130, while the link 170 has a pivotal connection 182 at its forward end to the leg-rest 130 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 180.

An actuating means is operatively connected to the body-supporting unit 124 and to the leg-rest mounting linkage 132 and is effective during the first movement phase to move the leg-rest 130 from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the extended and elevated legsupporting position illustrated in FIG. 2. The actuating means takes the form of an actuating link 184 which is pivotally connected to the seat 126 at the pivotal mount 174 and pivotally connected to the mounting link 168 at a pivotal connection 186.

During the first movement phase the carrier member 136 and the supporting member 140 remains stationary, such that the pivotal mount 178 for the leg-rest mounting linkage 132 is effectively stationary.

In response to the rearward movement of the bodysupporting unit 124 from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the intermediate, tilted sitting position (not shown), the mounting link 168 will be turned in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 178 incident to the pulling force exerted by the actuating link 184 to swing the leg-rest 130 from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the intermediate extended and elevated legsupporting position. During the second movement phase, the body-supporting unit 124 turns about the rear pivotal connection 158 serving as a pivotal mount and thereby exerts a pulling force via the actuating link 184 on the mounting link 168 which has a tendency to continue to turn the mounting link 168 about the pivotal mount 178. Concurrent with this turning movement of the mounting link 168 about the pivotal mount 178, the carrier member and supporting

members

136, 140 turn in the clockwise direction about the carrier and supporting

pivot

138, 142 respectively. This turning movement displaces the pivotal mount 178 for the mounting link 168 upwardly and rearwardly which, concurrent with the turning movement of the link 168 about its pivotal mount 178 brings about a lowered adjustment or compensation of the elevated leg-supporting position for the leg-rest 130 during the second movement phase.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is shown a further reclining chair 210 demonstrating features of the present invention which includes a support or frame 212 having

opposite side walls

214, 216 interconnected by suitable cross braces 218, 220 and supported on depending legs 222.

A body-supporting means, generally designated by the reference numeral 224 and including a rigid seat 226 and back-rest 228 is mounted on the support 212 for movement from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 6 through a first movement phase into an intermediate, tilted sitting position and from the intermediate, tilted sitting position through an infinite number of reclining positions to a fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 7.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 226 is a leg-rest 230 which is mounted on a double four-bar leg-rest mounting linkage 232 for movement from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 6 to various elevated leg-supporting positions, as shown for example in FIG. 7 wherein the leg-rest is appropriately orientedrelative to the bodysupporting unit 224 and/ or to the floor line or support 212 to accommodate the legs of the chair occupant in an elevated, but slightly bent position.

A mounting means 234 is provided for mounting the body-supporting unit 224 on the support 212 for movement through the respective first and second movement phases. The mounting means 234 includes a carrier member or link 236 which extends fore and aft of the chair frame 212 and has a carrier pivot 238 at its rearward end on the support 212. The carrier member 236 remains stationary during the first movement phase and turns in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivot 238 during the second movement phase. The mounting means further includes a supporting member or link 240 winch is upwardiy and forwardly inclined from its lower end to its upper end and has a supporting pivot 242 at its lower end on the support. The supporting member 24%) remains stationary during the first movement phase and turns in the clockwise direction about the supporting pivot 242 during the second movement phase. The supporting member or link 240 is connected to the carrier member or link 236 by a lost motion interconnection which includes an elongated slot 244 formed in the carrier member 236 adjacent the forward end thereof which receives a pin 246 mounted adjacent the upper end of the supporting member 240.

The body-supporting unit 224 is movably mounted on the carrier member 236 which effectively serves as a stationary link or support during the first movement phase by a front guiding link 248 which has a front pivotal mount 254 on thecarrier member 236 at a point spaced rearwardly of the slot 244 and a front pivotal connection 252 to the seat 226 and by a rear guiding link 254 which has a rear pivotal mount 256 on the carrier member forwardly of the carrier pivot 238 and a rear pivotal connection 253 to the rearward portion of the body-supporting unit 224 rearwardly of the front pivotal connection 252. This arrangement will be recognized as providing a fourbar guiding linkage for movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member 236 for movement relative thereto during the first movement phase which includes as a stationary link the portion of the carrier member 2336 intermediate, the

pivotal mounts

256, 256 and as the movable links thereof the front guiding link 243, the portion of the body-supporting unit 224 intermediate the front and rear

pivotal connections

252, 258 and the rear guiding link 254.

Provision is made for blocking at least one of the front and rear guiding links 248, 254 against movement relative to the carrier member 236 and is supporting member 240 when the body-supporting unit 224 moves into the intermediate, tilted sitting position (not shown). In this illustrative arrangement, the rear guiding link 254 contacts a stop 259 on the carrier member 236 such that during the second movement phase the body-supporting unit 224 turns about the rear pivotal connection 238 of the carrier member 236 serving as a pivotal mount. This turning movement of the body-supporting unit 244 about the rear pivotal connection 258 during the second movement phase is coupled to the carrier link 236 and to the supporting link 240 via the front guiding link 2455 serving as a connecting link such that both the carrier and supporting

links

236, 240 likewise turn in the clockwise direction about 16 their respective pivots 238', 242 during the second move ment phase.

An initial sitting position for the body-supporting unit 224 relative to the carrier member 236 is established by a stop 260 adjacent the rearward end of the carrier member 236 which is forwardly of the rear guiding link 254.

The leg-rest mounting linkage 232 includes a first pair of mounting

links

262, 264 having a pivotal connection 266 at their adjacent ends and a second pair of mounting

links

268, 270 having a pivotal connection 272 at their adjacent ends. The mounting link 262 has a pivotal mount 2'74 at its upper end on the'seat 226. Intermediate its ends the mounting link 262 crosses over the mounting link 270 and has a coordinating pivotal connection 276 there to. The mounting link 268 has a pivotal mount 278 at its upper end on the upper and forward end of the supporting link 240. The link 264 has a pivotal connection 280 at its forward end to the leg-rest, while the link 270 has a pivotal connection 282 at its forward end to the leg-rest at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 280.

An actuating link 284 is operatively connected to the body-supporting unit 224 and to the leg-rest mounting linkage 232 and is effective during the first movement phase to move the leg-rest 230 from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 6 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position. The actuating link 284 is pivotally connected to the seat 226 at the pivotal mount 274 and pivotally connected to the mounting link 268 at a pivotal connection 286.

During the first movement phase the carrier member 236 and the supporting member 240 remains stationary, such that the pivotal mount 278 for the leg-rest mounting linkage 232 is elfectively stationary. Accordingly, in response to the rearward movement of the body-supporting unit 224 from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 6 to the intermediate tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 7 under the control of the four-bar guiding linkage including the front and rear guiding links 248, 254, the mounting link 263 will be turned in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 278 incident to the pulling force exerted by the actuating link 284 to swing the leg-rest 230 from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 6 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 7. During the second movement phase, the body-supporting unit 224 turns about the rear pivotal connection 238 of the carrier member 236 serving as a pivotal mount and thereby exerts a pulling force via the actuating link 284 on the mounting link 268 which has a tendency to continue to turn the mounting link 268 about the pivotal mount 278-. Concurrent with this turning movement of the mounting link 268 about the pivotal mount 27 S, the carrier member 236 and the supporting member 240 turn in the clockwise direction about the carrier and supporting

pivot

238, 242 respectively. This turning movement displaces the pivotal mount 278 for the mounting link 263 upwardly and rearwardly which, concurrent with the turning movement of the link 268 about its pivotal mount 278, brings about a lowered adjustment or compensation of the elevated legsupporting position for the leg-rest 230 during the second movement phase.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 8 to 10 of the drawings, thereis shown a still further reclining chair 310 demonstrating features of the present invention which includes a support or frame 312 having

opposite side walls

314, 316 interconnected by suitable cross braces 318, 320 and supported on depending legs 322.

A body-supporting means, generally designated by the reference numeral 324 and including a seat 326 and a back-rest 328, is mounted on the support 312 for movement from the upright sitting position illustrated in FIG. 8 through a first movement phase into an intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 9 and from the intermediate, tilted sitting position through an infinite number of reclining positions to a fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 10. In this illustrative embodiment,

the seat 326 and the back-rest 328 are separate from each other to provide a chair of the recliner type wherein the seat 326 inclines as the back-rest 328 reclines.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 326 is a leg-rest 330 which is mounted on a double four-bar legrest mounting linkage 332 for movement from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 8 to various elevated leg-supporting positions, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 wherein the leg-rest is appropriately oriented relative to the bodysupporting unit 324 and/or to the floor line or support 312.

A mounting means 334 is provided for mounting the body-supporting unit 324 on the support 312 for movement through the respective first and second movement phases. The mounting means 334 includes a carrier member or link 336 which extends fore and aft of the chair frame 312 and has a carrier pivot 338 at its rearward end on the support 312. The carrier member 336 remains stationary during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 8 and 9, and turns in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivot 338 during the second movement phase. The mounting means further includes a supporting member or link 340 which is upwardly and forwardly inclined from its lower end to its upper end and has a supporting pivot 342 at its lower end on the support. The supporting member remains stationary during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 8 and 9, and turns in the clockwise direction about the carrier pivot 338 during the second movement phase. The supporting member or link 340 is connected to the carrier member or link 336 by a lost motion interconnection which includes an elongated slot 344 formed in the supporting member 340 adjacent the upper end thereof which receives a pin 346 mounted on the forward end of the carrier member 336.

The body-supporting unit 324 is movably mounted on the carrier member 336 which effectively serves as a stationary support during the first movement phase by a front guiding link 348 and a rear guiding lever 354. The front guiding link 348 has a front pivotal mount 350 on the carrier member 336 at a point spaced rearwardly of the pin 346 and a front pivotal connection 352 to the seat 326. The rear guiding lever 354 has one arm 354a which has a rear pivotal mount 356 on the support spaced rearwardly of the carrier pivot 338 and a rear pivotal connection 358 to the rearward portion of the seat 326 at a point spaced from the front pivotal connection 352. This arrangement will be recognized as providing a fourbar guiding linkage for movably mounting the seat 326 of the body-supporting unit 324 on the carrier member 336 for movement relative thereto during the first movement phase which includes as a stationary link the portion of the carrier member 336 and the support 312 intermediate the

pivotal mounts

350, 356 and as the movable links thereof the front guiding link 348, the portion of the seat 326 intermediate the front and rear

pivotal connections

352, 358 and the rear guiding arm or link 354a. The back-rest 328 is rigidly connected to the arm 3541; of the rear guiding lever 354 and reclined at a different rate than the seat inclines to open up the included angle therebetween as the chair moves through its two phases.

Provision is made for blocking the front guiding link 348 against movement relative to the carrier member 336 and its supporting member 340 when the body-supporting unit 324 moves into the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 9. In this illustrative arrangement, the front guiding link 348 contacts an integral extension 359 of the carrier member 336 serving as a stop such that during the second movement phase the seat 326 is guided by a four-bar linkage including the support 312 intermediate the

pivots

338, 356 as the stationary link thereof, and the carrier member 336 and the front guiding link 348 together as a first movable link, the portion of the seat 326 intermediate the

pivotal connections

352, 358

as a second movable link, and the arm 354a as a third movable link. The movement of the seat 326 during the second movement phase is coupled to the supporting member 340 via the front guiding link 348 and carrier member 336 serving as a connecting means such that the supporting member 340 turns in the clockwise direction about the supporting pivot 342 during the second movement phase.

Provision is made for establishing an initial sitting position for the body-supporting unit 324 relative to the carrier member 336 which in this illustrative form is provided by a cross brace or stop 360 on the support 312 which underlies the rear guiding arm 354a. The leg-rest mounting linkage 332 includes a first pair of mounting

links

362, 364 having a pivotal connection 366 at their adjacent ends and a second pair of mounting

links

368, 370 having a pivotal connection 372 at their adjacent ends. The mounting link 362 has a pivotal mount 374 at its upper end on the seat. Intermediate its ends the mounting link 362 crosses over the mounting link 370 and has a coordinating pivotal connection 376 thereto. The mounting link 368 has a pivotal mount 378 at its upper end on the upper and forward end of the supporting link 340. The link 364 has a pivotal connection 380 at its forward end to the leg-rest while the link 370 has a pivotal connection 382 at its forward end to the leg-rest 330 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 380.

An actuating link 384 is operatively connected to the seat 326 of the body-supporting unit 324 and to the legrest mounting linkage 332 and is effective during the first movement phase to move the leg-rest 330 from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 8 to the extended and elevated legsupporting position illustrated in FIG. 9. The actuating link 384 is pivotally connected to the seat 326 at the pivotal mount 374 and pivotally connected to the mounting link 368 at a pivotal connection 386. During the first movement phase the carrier member 336 and the supporting member 340 remains stationary, such that the pivotal mount 378 for the leg-rest mounting linkage 332 is effectively stationary. Accordingly, in response to the rearward movement of the body-supporting unit 324 from the sitting position illustrated in FIG. 8 to the intermediate tilted sitting position illustraed in FIG. 9 under the control of the four-bar guiding linkage, the mounting link 368 will be turned in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 378 incident to the pulling force exerted by the actuating link 384 to swing the leg-rest 330 from the stored position illustrated in FIG. 8 to the extended and elevated leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 9. During the second movement phase, the seat 326 turns about the four-bar guiding linkage which in cludes the carrier member 336 and the front guiding link 348 as one link thereof. The continued movement turns the mounting link 368 about its pivotal mount 378 and concurrent with this turning movement, the carrier and supporting

members

336, 340 turn in the clockwise direction about the carrier and supporting

pivot

338, 342 respectively. This turning movement displaces the pivotal mount 378 for the mounting link 368 upwardly and rearwardly which, concurrent with the turning movement of the link 368 about its pivotal mount 378, bring about a further increased elevation adjustment or compensation of the elevated leg-supporting position for the leg-rest 330 during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 9 and 10.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding of this illustrative embodiment according to the present invention, there follows a description of a typical sequence of operations:

When the chair occupant is seated in the body-supporting unit 324 and urges his or her weight rearwardly relative to the support 312, the body-supporting unit 324 moves rearwardly with respect to the relatively stationary carrier member 336. During such first movement phase, the seat 326 is controlled by the four-bar guiding linkage which includes the front guiding link 348 and the rear guiding link 354 while the back-rest reclines rearwardly, turning about the pivotal mount 356. The body-supporting unit moves into the intermediate, tilted sitting position illustrated in FIG. 9 which position is established when the front guiding link 354 contacts the stop 359. During such first movement phase there is very little change in the angular relationship between the seat and back-rest, but the leg-rest 33% is elevated. Throughout the first movement phase, the weight of the chair and of the occupant is such as to maintain the pin 346 of the lost

motion connection

344, 346 at the lower end of the slot 344. When the chair arrives at the intermediate, tilted sitting position of FIG. 9, the leg-rest is elevated and extended forwardly of the seat 326 in the appropriate attitude both in relation to the body-supporting unit 324 and to the support 312 to comfortably accommodate the legs of the chair occupant. v

In response to continued rearward pressure against the back-rest 328 of the body-supporting unit 324, the second movement phase will be initiated, with the seat 326 turning about the four-bar linkage including the carrier member 336 and front guiding link 348 together serving as the front guiding means. The back-rest 3228 continues to turn about the pivotal mount 356, but the guiding action on the seat 326 is such as to open up the included angle between the seat and back-rest. The carrier member 336 and the supporting member 340 turn in the clockwise direction about their respective pivots 338, 3 i2 and incident to such movement, the pin 34-6 translates upwardly along the lost motion slot 344. During the second movement phase, the leg-rest 334) is maintained in an elevated leg-supporting position, but its attitude and elevation is changed due to the rearward movement of the pivotal mount 37a; and the corresponding movement of the mounting links of the leg-rest mounting linkage 332 and the concurrent rearward movement of the pivotal mount 378 for the mounting link 363 incident to the rearward turning of the supporting member or link. The end of the second movement phase is established when the pin 346 on the carrier member 336 translates into contact with the upper and forward end of the lost motion slot 344 in the supporting member 340.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. In a reclining chair of the multiple position type comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, mounting means operatively connected to and mounting said body-supporting means on said supportfor movement through first and second movement phases, said mounting means including a carrier member, means mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a supporting member, means mounting said supporting member on said support for turning movement about a supporting pivot, means including a lost motion connection connecting said supporting member to said carrier member, said carrier member, said supporting member and said lost motion connection effectively serving as three movable links of a four-bar supporting linkage wherein the portion of said chair intermediate said carrier pivot and said supporting pivot serves as a stationary link, guiding means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said four-bar supporting linkage, a legrest, a leg-rest mounting linkage operatively connected to at least said supporting member and said leg-rest for mounting said leg-rest for movement into an elevated legsupporting position, and actuating means operatively connected to said body-supporting means and to said legrest mounting linkage and operative during said first movement phase to move said leg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting position, said four-bar supporting linkage remaining stationary during said first movement phase and said guiding means moving relative thereto to guide said body-supporting means into an intermediate, tilted sitting position, said four-bar supporting linkage turning about said carrier and supporting pivots respectively during said second movement phase to guide said body-supporting means into a fully reclined position and to adjust the elevated leg-supporting position of said leg-rest independently of and relative to said body-supporting means and to said support with the inclination of said eg-rest being changed such that the forward end of said leg-rest is lowered and the rearward end of said leg-rest is elevated to establish an optimum position for said leg-rest in relation to the seat of said body-supporting means.

2. In a reclining chair of the multiple position type comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, mounting means operatively connected to and mounting said body-supporting means on said support for movement through first and second movement phases, said mounting means including a carrier member, means mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a supporting member, means mounting said supporting member on said support for turning movement about a supporting pivot, means including a lost motion connection connecting said supporting member to said carrier member, said carrier member, said supporting member and said lost motion connection effectively serving as three movable links of a four-bar supporting linkage wherein the portion of said chair intermediate said carrier pivot and said supporting pivot serves as a stationary link, guiding means movably mounting said bodysupporting means on said four-bar supporting linkage, a leg-rest, a leg-rest mounting linkage operatively connected to at least said supporting member and said leg-rest for mounting said leg-rest for movement into an elevated leg-supporting position, said leg-rest mounting linkage including at least one mounting link pivotally mounted on said four-bar supporting linkage, and actuating means operatively connected to said body-supporting means and to said leg-rest mounting linkage and operative during said first movement phase to move said leg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting position, said four-bar supporting linkage remaining stationary during said first movement phase and said guiding means moving relative thereto to guide said body-supporting means into an intermediate, tilted sitting position, said four-bar supporting linkage turning about said carrier and supporting pivots respectively during said second movement phase to guide said body-supporting means into a fully reclined position and to adjust the elevated leg-supporting position of said legrest independently of and relative to said body-supporting means and to said support with the inclination of said leg-rest being changed such that the forward end of said leg-rest is lowered and the rearward end of said leg-rest is elevated to establish an optimum position for said legrest in relation to the seat of said body-supporting means.

3. In a reclining chair of the multiple position type comprising a support member, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, mounting means operatively connected to and mounting said body-supporting means on said support for movement through a first movement phase from a sitting position to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and through a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position to a reclining position, said mounting means including a carrier member, means mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a supporting member, means mounting said supporting member on said support for turning movement about a supporting pivot, means including a lost motion connection connecting said supporting member to said carrier member, said carrier member, said supporting member and said lost motion connection effectively serving as three movable links of a four-bar supporting linkage wherein the portion of said chair intermediate said carrier pivot and said supporting pivot serves as a stationary link, guiding means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said four-bar supporting linkage, a leg-rest, a leg-rest mounting linkage operatively connected to and mounting said leg-rest for movement into an elevated legsupporting position in response to movement of the bodysupporting means, said leg-rest mounting linkage including at least a first mounting link having a first pivotal mount on said body-supporting means and a second mounting link having a second pivotal mount on said supporting member of said supporting linkage, actuating means connected to said body-supporting means and to said leg-rest mounting linkage for moving said leg-rest into said elevated leg-supporting position as said bodysupporting means moves into said intermediate, tilted sitting position, said guiding means moving relative to said support to guide said body-supporting means into said intermediate, tilted sitting position, and means for blocking said guiding means when said body-supporting means moves into said intermediate, tilted sitting position at the end of said first movement phase, said supporting linkage being efiective during said second movement phase to guide said body-supporting means into said fully reclined position and to adjust the elevated legsupporting position of said leg-rest relative to said bodysupporting means and to said support.

4. In a reclining chair of the multiple position type comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, mounting means operatively connected to and mounting said body-supporting means on said support for movement through first and second movement phases, said mounting means including a carrier member, means mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a supporting member, means mounting said supporting member on said support for turning movement about a supporting pivot, means including a lost motion connection connecting said supporting member to said carrier member, said carrier member, said supporting member and said lost motion connection effectively serving as three movable links of a four-bar supporting linkage wherein the portion of said chair intermediate said carrier pivot and said supporting pivot serves as a stationary link, guiding means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said four-bar supporting linkage, a leg-rest, a leg-rest mounting linkage operatively connected to at least said supporting member and said leg-rest for mounting said leg-rest for movement into an elevated leg-supporting position, and actuating means operatively connected to said body-supporting means and to said leg-rest mounting linkage and operative during said first movement phase to move said leg-rest to said elevated leg-supporting position, said four-bar supporting linkage remaining stationary during said first movement phase and said guiding means moving relative thereto to guide said body-supporting means into an intermediate, tilted sitting position, said four-bar supporting linkage turning about said carrier and supporting pivots respectively during said second movement phase to guide said body-supporting means into a fully reclined position and to adjust the elevated legsupporting position of said leg-rest independently of and relative to said body-supporting means and to said support, and said leg-rest mounting linkage including at least a first mounting link having a first pivotal mount on said body-supporting means and a second mounting link having a second pivotal mount on said supporting member such that the angle subtended by successive lines passing through said carrier pivot, first pivotal mount and second pivotal mount is decreased during said second movement phase whereby the inclination of said leg-rest is changed with the forward end of said leg-rest lowered and the rearward end of said leg-rest elevated so as to establish an optimum adjusted position for said leg-rest in relation to the seat of said body-supporting means.

5. In a reclining chair of the multiple position type comprising a support, body-supporting means including a seat and back-rest, mounting means operatively connected to and mounting said body-supporting means on said support for movement through first and second movement phases, said mounting means including a carrier member, means mounting said carrier member on said support for turning movement about a carrier pivot, a supporting member, means mounting said supporting member on said support for turning movement about a supporting pivot, means including a lost motion connection connecting said supporting member to said carrier member, said carrier member, said supporting member and said lost motion connection effectively serving as three movable links of a four-bar supporting linkage wherein the portion of said chair intermediate said carrier pivot and said supporting pivot serves as a stationary link, guiding means movably mounting said body-supporting means on said four-bar supporting linkage, a leg-rest, a leg-rest mounting linkage operatively connected to at least said supporting member and said leg-rest for mounting said leg-rest for movement into an elevated leg-supporting position, said leg-rest mounting linkage including at least one mounting link pivotally mounted on said four-bar supporting linkage and actuating means operatively connected to said body-supporting means and to said leg-rest mounting linkage and operative during said first movement phase to move said leg-rest to said elevated legsupporting position, said four-bar supporting linkage remaining stationary during said first movement phase and said guiding means moving relative thereto to guide said body-supporting means into an intermediate, tilted sitting position, said four-bar supporting linkage turning about said carrier and supporting pivots respectively during said second movement phase to guide said body-supporting means into a fully reclined position and to adjust the elevated leg-supporting position of said leg-rest independently of and relative to said body-supporting means and to said support, and said leg-rest mounting linkage including at least a first mounting link having a first pivotal mount on said body-supporting means and a second mounting link having a second pivotal mount on said supporting member such that the angle subtended by successive lines passing through said carrier pivot, first pivotal mount and second pivotal mount is decreased during said second movement phase whereby the inclination of said leg-rest is changed with the forward end of said leg-rest lowered and the rearward end of said leg-rest elevated so as to establish an optimum adjusted position for said leg-rest in relation to the seat of said bodysupporting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,497 Luckhardt Oct. 28, 1952 2,918,109 Schliephacke Dec. 22, 1959 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959 2,940,509 Fletcher June 14, 1960 2,940,510 Schliephacke June 14, 1960 2,948,330 Lorenz Aug. 9, 1960

Claims

1. IN A RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE POSITION TYPE COMPRISING A SUPPORT, BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A SEAT AND BACK-REST, MOUNTING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AND MOUNTING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH FIRST AND SECOND MOVEMENT PHASES, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A CARRIER MEMBER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CARRIER MEMBER ON SAID SUPPORT FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A CARRIER PIVOT, A SUPPORTING MEMBER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER ON SAID SUPPORT FOR TURNING MOVEMENT ABOUT A SUPPORTING PIVOT, MEANS INCLUDING A LOST MOTION CONNECTION CONNECTING SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER TO SAID CARRIER MEMBER, SAID CARRIER MEMBER, SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND SAID LOST MOTION CONNECTION EFFECTIVELY SERVING AS THREE MOVABLE LINKS OF A FOUR-BAR SUPPORTING LINKAGE WHEREIN THE PORTION OF SAID CHAIR INTERMEDIATE SAID CARRIER PIVOT AND SAID SUPPORTING PIVOT SERVES AS A STATIONARY LINK, GUIDING MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS ON SAID FOUR-BAR SUPPORTING LINKAGE, A LEGREST, A LEG-REST MOUNTING LINKAGE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AT LEAST SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND SAID LEG-REST FOR MOUNTING SAID LEG-REST FOR MOVEMENT INTO AN ELEVATED LEG-