US3146023A

US3146023A - Leg-rest mounting means for reclining chairs

Info

Publication number: US3146023A
Application number: US189854A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lorenz Anton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-04-24
Filing date: 1962-04-24
Publication date: 1964-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-08-25

Description

Aug. 25, 1964 A. LORENZ 3,146,023

LEG-REST MOUNTING MEANS FOR RECLINING CHAIRS Filed April 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR. 24 ANTON AO/QE/VZ By MK Aug. 25, 1964 A. LORENZ 3,146,023

LEG-REST MOUNTING MEANS FOR RECLINING CHAIRS Filed April 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

INV EN TOR. a AMTO/V' ZOIQE/VZ- Aug. 25, 1964 A. LORENZ 3,146,023

LEG'REST MOUNTING MEANS FOR RECLINING CHAIRS Filed April 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5.

ZK INVENTOR.

v ANTON LO/QE/VZ /24 BY TTOEIVE/S Aug. 25, 1964 A. LORENZ 3,146,023

LEG-REST MOUNTING MEANS FOR RECLINING CHAIRS Filed April 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ANTON LORENZ.

OTT RNYS United States Patent 3,146,023 LEG-REST MOUNTING MEANS FOR RECLINING CHAIRS Anton Lorenz, P.0. Box 742, Boynton Beach, Fla. Filed Apr. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 189354 Claims. (Cl. 29785) The present invention relates to reclining chairs, and in particular to novel leg-rest mounting means for an improved reclining chair.

The Well-known reclining chair comprises a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest and a leg-rest mounted below the seat for elevating movement into various leg-supporting positions forwardly of the seat. Such reclining chair includes appropriate mounting and controlling linkages which coordinate the seat and leg-rest to the movement of the body-supporting unit such that the required inclination of the seat and elevation of the leg-rest is achieved as a function of or in response to the inclining movement of the back-rest. In my copending application Serial No. 762,482, filed September 22, 1958, and entitled Reclining Chair which is now matured into US. Patent No. 3,047,335, of which this application is a continuation-in-part, there is disclosed an improved reclining chair wherein there are two phases of chair movement. During the first phase or portion of the chair movement, the body-supporting unit is moved into an intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position, and simultaneously the leg-rest is moved into an elevated leg-supporting position. During the second phase or portion of the reclining movement the bodysupporting unit is moved to a fully reclined position, and the leg-rest remains substantially in the elevated legsupporting position. In this preferred type of chair, which I refer to as a double-movement type of chair, the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position is suitable to comfortably accommodate the chair occupant in an attitude appropriate for viewing television, reading, sewing and the like, and the fully reclined position is suitable for accommodating the chair occupant in an attitude appropriate for complete or full relaxation.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved leg-rest mounting means for a reclining chair. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide an improved mounting and control arrangement for achieving the coordinated movement of a leg-rest of a reclining chair in response to the reclining movement of its body-supporting unit.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting and control arrangement for a double-movement reclining chair which is suitable during the first phase or portion of the reclining movement to elevate the leg-rest of the chair, with the seat and back-rest remaining substantially in the same angular relationship, and during the second phase or portion of the reclining movement to open or increase the angle between the seat and back-rest, with the leg-rest remaining elevated.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved leg-rest mounting means for a two position reclining chair of the well-known rester type wherein the body-supporting unit includes a back-rest which is fixedly secured to a seat. The leg-rest mounting means is adapted to elevate the leg-rest during the first movement phase while the leg-rest remains in substantially the same ele vated position during the second movement phase.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, my improved reclining chair comprises a support, a bodysupporting unit including a seat and back-rest mounted on the support for movement through a first phase from a ice sitting position to an intermediate resting position and for further movement through a second phase from the intermediate resting position into various reclining positions and seat control means for inclining the seat in response to movement of the back-rest of the body-supporting unit. A leg-rest is mounted beneath the seat by an appropriate leg-rest control linkage and is operatively connected to the body-supporting unit such that the leg-rest is moved into an elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat in response to the movement of the body-supporting unit through the first phase of chair movement into the resting position.

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 illustrative embodiments demonstrating features of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of a reclining chair of the double-movement type demonstrating features of the present invention, shown in the upright sitting position;

FIG, 2 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the reclining chair in the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined resting position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in the extreme or fully reclined position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of a further embodiment of the reclining chair of the roster type demonstrating further features of the present invention, shown in the upright sitting position;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair in the intermediate tilted or semi-reclined position;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the chair in the extreme or fully reclined position;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, with part broken away and sectioned, of another form of the invention, shown in an upright sitting position;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 showing the chair in the intermediate tilted position; and

FIG. 9 is an elevational view showing the chair of FIG. 7 in a fully reclined position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive a first embodiment of the reclining chair of the double-movement type demonstrating features of the present invention, which has been generally designated by the reference numeral 10, and includes a support 12 having

opposite side walls

14, 16 interconnected by appropriate cross braces or

bars

18, 20, 22 and supported on depending legs 24.

Movably mounted on the support 12 are the component parts of the chair, namely the back-rest 26 which is mounted for reclining movement, the seat 28 which is mounted for inclining movement, and the leg-rest 30 which is mounted for elevating movement. Specifically, the back-rest 26 is mounted on the support 12 at a backrest pivot 32 contiguous to the lower end of the backrest 26; the seat 28 is mounted at a seat pivot 34 on the back-rest 26 by rearwardly directed rigid hanger 36; and the leg-rest 30 is mounted beneath the forward end of the seat by links having a leg-rest pivot 38 on the seat 28. The leg-rest pivot 38 which is illustrated as a movable suspending pivot confined for fore and aft translation within a guide bracket 39 fixed to and depending from the seat 28.

A detailed description will now follow of my im- 04 proved mounting and controlling arrangement for mounting the back-rest 26, the seat 28, and the leg-rest 30 for a first phase of movement from the sitting position (see FIG. 1) into an intermediate resting position (see FIG. 2) with substantially no relative displacement between the back-rest and seat and with the displacement of the legrest to an elevated leg-supporting position and for a second phase of the chair movement from the resting position into a reclining position (see FIG. 3) with a substantial increase in the angle between the seat and backrest and with the maintenance of the leg-rest in the elevated leg-supporting position. The mounting and controlling arrangement comprises a seat control means which includes a carrier link 40 which is mounted at a carrier pivot 42 on the support 12 such that the carrier link 40 is movable from a starting position through a rearwardly and upwardly directed are, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 2 and 3. The carrier link 40 normally bears against an inclined supporting surface 18a at the upper end of the cross-brace 18. The brace 18 precludes movement of the carrier link 40 forwardly and downwardly out of the starting position but permits the required movement of the carrier link through the rearwardly and upwardly directed are for the seat control function. The carrier link 40 remains substantially stationary during the first phase of the reclining movement (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and serves as the seat control means during the second phase of the reclining movement (see FIG. 3).

Connected between the seat 28 and the carrier link 40 is an interengaging front guide means which includes guide member 44 and a follower member 46 engaged by the guide member 44 and imparts an inclination to the seat 28 during the first phase of movement. In this illustrative embodiment the guide member 44 of the interengaging guide means is in the form of a guide plate fixed to the upper end of the carrier link 40 and formed with an upwardly and rearwardly directed guiding surface 44a terminating in a curved seating portion 44b at its upper end and a curved seating portion 440 at its lower end. The follower member 46 of the interengaging guide means is in the form of a roller which is pivotally mounted on the seat 28 at the pivot 48. In the upright sitting position, the guide member 44 is disposed relative to the follower roller 46 such that roller is in contact with the conforming curved seating portion 440. In response to a rearwardly directed thrust being imparted to the seat 28 incident to reclining movement of the back-rest 26, an inclination is imparted to the seat as determined by the slope of the guiding surface 441: of the guide member 44. By appropriately selecting the slope of the guiding surface 44a, the inclination imparted to the seat 28 may be such as to maintain substantially the same angular relationship between the seat 28 and the back-rest 26 as the seat moves through the first phase of its movement into the intermediate tilted or resting position illustrated in FIG. 2. The interengaging

guide members

44, 46 serves as a sliding interconnection between the seat 28 and the carrier link 40 during the first phase of movement such that the carrier link 40 remains substantially stationary and in its starting position. When the follower roller 46 moves to the limit of its travel relative to the guide member 44 wherein the roller 46 bears against the curved seating portion 44b at the upper end of the guide member 44, a pivotal interconnection is provided between the carrier link 40 and the seat 28.

The seat 28 is guided at its rear end by a portion 33 of the back rest 26 between the

pivots

32 and 34 serving as a rear guide member. This rear guide member 33 provides a rigid connection between the seat 28 and the support 12 through the respective

pivotal connections

34 and 32. Accordingly, in response to further rearward thrust imparted to the seat 28, incident to further reclining movement of the back-rest 26, the carrier link 40 moves out of its substantially stationary starting position through a rearwardly and upwardly directed are about its pivotal mount 42. to impart the requisite inclination to the seat during the second phase of the movement. The second phase of movement is concluded by the brace 20 having its forward surface 20a serving as a stop which engages the carrier link 40 after the carrier link has traveled through the requisite arc to establish the desired angular relationship between the seat and back-rest for the fully inclined position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Operatively connected to the seat control arrangement and to the leg-rest is a leg-rest control linkage which is effective to elevate the leg-rest 30 into the requisite legsupporting position in response to movement of the bodysupporting unit through the first phase of movement. In this form of the invention the leg-rest control linkage includes a control member 50 which is in the form of a double arm lever pivotally mounted on the carrier link 49 at a pivot 51 below the guide member 44. The control member 50 includes a first arm 50a which extends generally upwardly from the pivot 51 and is connected to the back-rest 26 by a first connecting link 52 which has a pivotal connection 54 at its forward end to the upper end of the arm 50a and a pivotal connection 56 at its rearward end to the back-rest intermediate the back-rest pivot 32 and the seat pivot 34. The control member 50 further includes a generally downwardly extending arm Stib which is operatively connected to the leg-rest 30 by a second connecting link 58 which has a pivotal connection 60 at its rearward end to the lower end of the arm 59b and a pivotal connection 62 at its forward end to the leg-rest 39. The leg-rest control linkage is completed by a further pair of

links

64, 66 which have their adjacent ends connected by a pivot 68. The link 64 serves as a suspending arm for the leg-rest 30 and carries at its upper end the movable suspending pivot 38 for the legrest which is confined within the guide bracket 39. The link 64 crosses over the connecting link 58 and has a coordinating pivotal connection 70 thereto, while the link 66 has a pivotal connection 72 at its forward end to the leg-rest 30 at a point spaced from and below the pivotal connection 62. Appropriate means are operatively connected to the leg-rest control linkage for displacing the movable suspending pivot 38 forwardly from its retracted position (see FIG. 1) in response to the movement such that the leg-rest is extended relative to the seat (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In this embodiment, the movable suspending pivot 38 is urged forwardly in response to the reclining movement by an actuating link 74 which has its forward end pivotally connected to the link 64 coaxially of the pivot 38 and has its rearward end pivotally connected to the back-rest 26 at a pivot 76 intermediate the

pivots

32, 34. The pivot 76 is located contiguous to the backrest pivot 32 such that there is comparatively little rearward displacement of the actuating link 74 in response to reclining movement as compared to the seat 28 which is mounted at the back-rest pivot 34. Accordingly as the body-supporting unit moves from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 3, the movable pivot 38 and the leg-rest 30 will be displaced forwardly relative to the seat 28.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that in response to rearward movement of the seat 28 under control of the back-rest 26 a turning force is applied to the leg-rest control member 50 by the connecting link 52 which swings the arm 5% in the clockwise direction about the pivot 51 which imparts a forward thrust to the

links

58, 64, 66 to elevate the leg-rest 30 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2. Although the leg-rest 30 remains in the elevated leg-supporting position as the carrier link 40 turns about the pivot 42 and carries the leg-rest control linkage rearwardly and upwardly during the second phase of chair movement, the leg-rest 30 continues to be extended relative to the seat due to the relative displacement of the movable pivot 38.

A more thorough understanding of the construction and function of this embodiment of a reclining chair of the double-movement type may be obtained by making reference to the following description of an illustrative sequence of operations, making progressive reference to FIGS. 13 inclusive:

When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 26, the back-rest begins to turn about the backrest pivot 32 and the seat 28 translated rearwardly which causes the follower member 46 to be displaced rearwardly relative to the guide member 44 to achieve the seat control function. This also causes the leg-rest control member 51) to turn about the pivot 51 to achieve the leg rest control function and the movable suspending pivot 38 to advance to achieve the extension of the leg-rest. The inclination imparted to the seat 28 by the interengaging guide means 44, 46 is established such that substantially no angular change occurs between the back-rest and seat during the first phase of movement. When the roller 46 contacts the curved seating portion 44b of the guide member 44 the end of the first phase of the chair movement is reached with the relationship of the back-rest, seat and leg-rest appropriate to establish the intermediate tilted or resting position illustrated in FIG. 2.

When the chair occupant desires to assume a more comfortable relaxation position, such as the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 3, the occupant leans further against the back-rest. Since the interengaging guide means 44, 46 is effectively blocked, a turning force is applied to the carrier link 40 which tends to turn the carrier link 41 through an upward and rearwardly directed arc about the pivotal mount 42 which will impart an inclination to the seat as determined by the length and initial starting position of the carrier link 41). The carrier link 40 is so arranged as to enable a substantial increase to occur in the angle between the seat and back-rest such that the proper relationship of the seat and the back-rest is established for the fully reclined position. During the second phase of chair movement, the leg-rest control linkage remains in its extended position and is carried along with the carrier link, but the suspending pivot 38 continues to be displaced forwardly to continue the extension of the leg-rest 30 relative to the seat 28 in response to the actuating link 74.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 4-6 inclusive, there is shown a further reclining chair of the rester type demonstrating features of the present invention, which has been generally designated by the reference numeral 110 and includes a support 112 having

opposite side walls

114, 116 interconnected by appropriate cross braces or bars 118 and 120 and supported on depending legs 124.

Movably mounted on the support are the three component parts of the chair, namely the back-rest 125 which is mounted for reclining movement, the seat 128 which is rigidly connected to the back-rest 126 and mounted for inclining movement and the leg-rest 138 which is mounted for elevating movement. Specifically, the bodysupporting unit including the back-rest 126 and seat 128 is mounted on the support 112 at a pivot 132 spaced from the lower end of the back-rest 126 and connected thereto by means of a rear guide link 133; the link 133 being pivoted to the seat 128 at a seat pivot 134. The leg-rest 138 is mounted beneath the forward end of the seat 128 at a leg-rest pivot 138 which is illustrated as a movable suspending pivot of the link 164 confined for fore and aft translataion within a guide bracket 139 fixed to and depending from the seat 128.

A detailed description will now follow of the mounting and controlling arrangement for mounting the backrest 126, the seat 128, and the leg-rest 130 for movement through a first phase of chair movement from the sitting position (see FIG. 4) into an intermediate resting position (see FIG. 5) with movement of the leg-rest 130 to an elevated leg-supporting position and for further movement through a second phase of the chair movement from the resting position into a reclining position (see FIG. 6)

with the leg-rest remaining in the elevated leg-supporting position. The mounting and controlling arrangement comprises a seat control means which includes a front guide link 41 which is pivotally connected to the seat 128 by a pivot 144. The lower end of the front guide link 141 is pivoted at a pivot 145 to the forward end of a carrier link or member 140. The rear end of the carrier member 140 has a fixed pivot 142 on the support 112. The carrier member 140 is mounted about the fixed carrier pivot 142 such that the carrier link 140 is movable from the starting position through a rearwardly and upwardly directed are as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 5 and 6. Engaging the carrier link 140 in the sitting position of the body-supporting unit is a stop which conveniently takes the form of an inclined supporting surface 118a at the upper end of the cross-braces 118. The stop 118a precludes the carrier link 1441 from forward and downward movement out of the starting position, but permits the required movement of the carrier link 140 through the rearwardly and upwardly directed arc. As will appear hereinafter, the carrier link 140 remains substantially stationary during the first phase of the reclining movement (see FIGS. 4 and 5), but serves as the lost motion means for the front guide link 141 during the second phase of the reclining movement (see FIG. 6).

On the carrier link 140 is a stop 143 preferably integral with the carrier link 1411 and adapted to have contact with the front guide link 141 at the end of the first movement phase (see FIG. 5) for a rigid connection therebetween.

Operatively connected to the seat control arrangement and to the leg-rest is a leg-rest control linkage which is effective to elevate the leg-rest 130 in response to movement of the body-supporting unit through the first phase of movement. In this form of the invention, the leg-rest control linkage includes a control member 150 which is in the form of a double arm lever pivotally mounted on the carrier link at the pivot 145'. The control member includes a first arm 150a which extends generally upwardly from the pivot 145 and is connected to a first connecting link 152 which has a pivotal connection 154 at its forward end to the upper end of the arm 158a and a pivotal connection 156 at its rear ward end to the rear guide link 133. The control member 159 further includes a downwardly extending arm 15Gb which is operatively connected to the leg-rest 130 by a second connecting link 158 which has a pivotal connection 160 at its rearward end to the lower end of the arm 15Gb and a pivotal connection 162 at its forward end to the leg-rest 130. In response to rearward movement of the seat 128 and back-rest 126 by the front and rear guide links 141 and 133, a turning force is applied to the control member 150 which swings the arm 15Gb in the clockwise direction about the pivot 145 and imparts a forward thrust to the connecting link 158 which elevates the leg-rest 130 to the leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 5.

During the second phase of chair movement, the legrest 130 remains in the elevated leg-supporting position, with the carrier link 140 turning about the pivotal mount 142 and carrying the leg-rest control linkage rearwardly and upwardly while the leg-rest remains in substantially the same relative position with respect to the seat 128. The leg-rest control linkage is completed by a further pair of

links

164, 166 which have their adjacent ends connected by a pivot 168. The link 164 serves as a suspending arm for the leg-rest 130 and carries at its upper end the movable suspending pivot 138 for the leg-rest which is confined within the guide bracket 139 of the seat 128. The link 164 crosses over the connecting link 158 and has a coordinating pivotal connection 170 thereto, while the link 164 has a pivotal connection 172 at its forward end to the leg-rest 130 at a point spaced from and below the pivotal connection 162. Appropriate means are operatively connected to the leg-rest control linkage for displacing the movable suspending pivot 138 forwardly from its retracted position (see FIG. 4) in response to the chair movement such that the leg-rest is extended relative to the seat (see FIGS. 5 and 6). In this embodiment, the movable suspending pivot 138 is urged forwardly in response to the reclining movement by an actuating link 174 which has its forward end pivotally connected to the link 164 coaxially of the pivot 138 and has its rearward end pivotally connected to the rear guide link 133 at a pivot 176 intermediate the

pivots

132, 156. The pivot 176 is located contiguous to the rear guide link 133 above the pivot 132 such that there is comparatively little rearward displacement of the actuating link 174 in response to reclining movement as compared to the seat 128 which is mounted at the upper end of the rear guide link 133 at pivot 134. Accordingly as the body-supporting unit moves from the upright sitting position of FIG. 4 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 6, the movable pivot 138 and the leg-rest 130 will be displaced forwardly relative to the seat 128.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that in response to rearward movement of the back-rest 126 and seat 128 a turning force is applied to the leg-rest control member 150 which swings the arm 15% in the clockwise direction about the pivot 145 which imparts a forward thrust to the

links

158, 164, 165 to elevate the legrest 130 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Although the leg-rest 139 remains in the elevated leg-supporting position as the carrier link 140 turns about the pivot 142 and carries the leg-rest control linkage rearwardly and upwardly during the second phase of chair movement, the leg-rest 130 remains to be extended relative to the seat due to the relative displacement of the movable pivot 138.

A more thorough understanding of the construction and function of this embodiment of a reclining chair of the two position type will be had by reference to the following description of an illustrative sequence of operations, making progressive reference to FIGS. 4-6 inclusive:

When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 126, the back-rest and seat begin to turn about the front guide link 141 and rear guide link 133 and the seat translates rearwardly which causes the rear guide link 133 to be rotated clockwise rearwardly causing the first connecting link 152 to rotate the control member 150 and causing the front guide link 141 to abut against the stop 143 locking both

guide links

141 and 133 against further rotation at the end of the first movement phase, FIG. 5. This also causes the leg-rest control member 150 to turn about the pivot 145 to achieve the leg-rest control function and the movable suspending pivot 138 to advance to achieve the extension of the leg-rest by the actuating link 174.

Further, the brace 120 may be so positioned that the rear guide link will abut against the brace 12% for preventing further rotation of the rear guide link after completion of the first motion phase.

When the chair occupant desires to assume a more comfortable relaxation position, such as the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 6, the occupant leans further against the back-rest. Since the rear guide link 133 is effectively blocked from further rotation, a turning force is applied to the carrier link 140 which tends to turn the carrier link 140 through an upwardly and rearwardly directed are about the pivotal mount 142. This will impart an inclination to the seat as determined by the length and initial starting position of the carrier 140.

At the same time the seat will tilt about the pivot 134. During the second phase of chair movement the leg-rest control linkage remains in its extended position and is carried along with the suspending pivot 138 remaining forwardly to continue the extension of the leg-rest 130 relative to the seat 128.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 inclusive, there is shown a further reclining chair of the rester type demonstrating features of the present 8 invention, which has been generally designated by the reference numeral 219 and includes a support 212 having opposite side walls 214 interconnected by appropriate cross braces or bars 218 and 220 and supported on depending legs 224.

Movably mounted on the support are the three component parts of the chair, namely the back-rest 226 which is mounted for reclining movement, the seat 228 which is rigidly connected to the back-rest 226 and mounted for inclining movement and the leg-rest 230 which is mounted for elevating movement. Specifically, the body-supporting unit including the back-rest 226 and seat 228 is mounted on the support 212 at a pivot 232 spaced from the lower end of the back-rest 226 and connected thereto by means of a rear guide link 233; the link 233 being pivoted to the seat 228 at a seat pivot 234. The leg-rest 230 is mounted beneath the forward end of the seat 228 at a leg-rest pivot 238 which is illustrated as a movable suspending pivot of the link 264 confined for fore and aft translation within a guide bracket 239 fixed to and depending from the seat 228.

A detailed description will now follow of the mounting and controlling arrangement for mounting the backrest 226, the seat 223, and the leg-rest 230 for movement through a first phase of movement from the sitting position (see FIG. 7) into an intermediate resting position (see FIG. 8) with movement of the leg-rest 234) to an elevated leg-supporting position and for further movement through a second phase from the resting position into a reclining position (see FIG. 9) with the leg-rest remaining in the elevated leg-supporting position. The mounting and controlling arrangement comprises a seat control means which includes a front guide link 241 which is pivotally connected to the seat 228 by a pivot 244. The lower end of the front guide link 241 is pivoted at a pivot 245 to the forward end of a carrier link or member 240. The rear end of the carrier member 249 has a fixed pivot 242 on the support 212. The carrier member 24-1) is mounted about the fixed carrier pivot 242 such that the carrier link 240 is movable from the starting position through a rearwardly and upwardly directed are as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 8 and 9. Engaging the carrier link 2419 in the sitting position of the body-supporting unit is a stop which conveniently takes the form of an inclined supporting surface 218a at the upper end of the cross-brace 218. The stop 218a precludes the carrier link 240 from forward and downward movement out of the starting position, but permits the required movement of the carrier link 240 through the rearwardly and upwardly directed are. As will appear hereinafter, the carrier link 240 remains substantially stationary during the first phase of the reclining movement (see FIGS. 7 and 8), but serves as the lost motion means for the front guide link 241 during the second phase of the reclining movement (see FIG. 9).

On the carrier link 240 is a stop 243 preferably integral with the carrier link 241) and adapted to have contact with the front guide link 241 at the end of the first movement phase (see FIG. 8), for a rigid connection therebetween.

Operatively connected to the seat control arrangement and to the leg-rest 230 is a leg-rest control linkage which is effective to elevate the leg-rest 239 in response to movement of the body-supporting unit through the first phase movement. In this form of the invention, the leg-rest control linkage includes a control member 250 which is in the form of a double arm lever pivotally mounted on the carrier link 24!) at the pivot 245. The control member 250 includes a first arm 250a which extends generally upwardly from the pivot 245 and is connected to a first connecting link 252 which has a pivotal connection 254 at its forward end to the upper end of the arm 250a and a pivotal connection 256 at its rearward end to the rear guide link 233. The control member 250 further includes a downwardly extending arm 25011 which is operatively connected to the leg-rest 230 by a second connecting link 258 which has a pivotal connection 250 at its rearward end to the lower end of the arm 25Gb and a pivotal connection 262 at its forward end to the leg-rest 230. In response to rearward movement of the seat 228 and back-rest 226, a turning force is applied to the control member 250 which swings the arm 250: in the clockwise direction about the pivot 245 and imparts a forward thrust to the connecting link 258 which elevates the leg-rest 230 to the leg-supporting position illustrated in FIG. 8.

During the second phase of chair movement, the legrest 230 remains in the elevated leg-supporting position, with the carrier link 240 turning about the pivot mount 242 and carrying the leg-rest control linkage rearwardly and upwardly while the leg-rest remains in substantially the same relative position with respect to the seat 228. The leg-rest control linkage is completed by a further pair of

links

264, 266 which have their adjacent ends connected by a pivot 268. The link 264 serves as a suspending arm for the leg-rest 230 and carries at its upper end the movable suspending pivot 238 for the leg-rest which is confined within the guide bracket 239 of the seat 228. The link 264 crosses over the connecting link 258 and has a coordinating pivotal connection 270 thereto, while the link 264 has a pivotal connection 272 at its forward end to the leg-rest 230 at a point spaced from and below the pivotal connection 262. Appropriate means are operatively connected to the leg-rest control linkage for displacing the movable suspending pivot 238 forwardly from its retracted position (see FIG. 7) in response to the seat movement such that the leg-rest is extended relative to the seat (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In this embodiment, the movable suspending pivot 238 is urged forwardly in response to the reclining movement by an actuating link 274 which has its forward end pivotally connected to the link 2454 at a pivot 275 spaced from the suspending pivot 238 and has its rearward end pivotally connected to the carrier link 240 at a pivot 276 intermediate the

pivots

242, 245.

As the body-supporting unit moves from the upright sitting position of FIG. 7 to the fully reclined position of FIG. 9, the movable pivot 238 and the leg-rest 230 will be displaced forwardly relative to the seat 228.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that in response to rearward movement of the back-rest 226 and seat 228 a turning force is applied to the leg-rest control member 250 which swings the arm 25% in the clockwise direction about the pivot 245 which imparts a forward thrust to the

links

258, 264, 266 to elevate the legrest 230 to the position illustrated in FIG. 8. Although the leg-rest 230 remains in the elevated leg-supporting position as the carrier link 240 turns about the pivot 242 and carries the leg-rest control linkage rearwardly and upwardly during the second phase movement, the leg-rest 230 continues to be extended relative to the seat due to the relative displacement of the movable pivot 238.

A more thorough understanding of the construction and function of this embodiment of a reclining chair of the two position type will be had by reference to the following description of an illustrative sequence of operations, making progressive reference to FIGS. 7-9 inclusive:

When the chair occupant is seated and leans against the back-rest 226, the back-rest and seat begin to turn about the front guide link 241 and rear guide link 233 and the seat translates rearwardly which causes the rear guide link 233 to be rotated clockwise rearwardly causing the first connecting link 252 to rotate the control member 250 and causing the front guide link 241 to abut against the stop 243 locking both

guide links

241 and 233 against further rotation at the end of the first movement phase, FIG. 8. This also causes the leg-rest control member 250 to turn about the pivot 245 to achieve the leg-rest control function and the movable suspending pivot 238 to 10 advance to achieve the extension of the leg-rest by the actuating link 274.

Further, the brace 220 may be so positioned that the rear guide link 233 will abut against the brace 220 for preventing further rotation of the rear guide link after completion of the first motion phase.

When the chair occupant desires to assume a more com fortable relaxation position, such as the fully reclined position illustrated in FIG. 9, the occupant leans further against the back-rest. Since the rear guide link 233 is efiectively blocked from further rotation, a turning force is applied to the carrier link 2 40 which tends to turn the carrier link 240 through an upwardly and rearwardly directed are about the pivotal mount 242. This will impart an inclination to the seat as determined by the length and initial starting position of the carrier 240.

At the same time the seat 228 will tilt about the pivot 234. During the second phase movement the leg-rest control linkage remains in its extended position and is carried along with the suspending pivot 238 remaining forwardly to continue the extension of the leg-rest 230 relative to the seat 228.

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. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support for movement through a first phase of movement from a sitting position into an intermediate resting position and for further movement through a second phase from said resting position into a reclining position, seat control means including a carrier movably mounted on said support, stop means engageable with said carrier in the sitting position of said body-supporting unit for establishing a substantially stationary position for said carrier, a leg-rest control linkage operatively connected to said seat control means, and a leg-rest operatively connected to said leg-rest control linkage, said leg-rest control linkage including a link, a pivot on said link, and means depending from said seat guidingly engaging said pivot to move along a path extending substantially fore and aft of said seat, connecting means operatively connected to a movable part of said chair to elevate said leg-rest, and an actuating link pivotally connected to a movable part of said chair other than said seat at a point spaced from said seat for effecting forward displacement of said pivot in response to reclining movement of said body-supporting unit to simultaneously extend said leg-rest relative to said seat.

2. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest rigidly connected together and mounted on said support for movement through a first phase of chair movement from a sitting position into an intermediate resting position and for further movement through a second phase from said resting position into a reclining position, seat control means including a carrier movably mounted on said support, stop means engageable with siad carrier in the sitting position of said body-supporting unit for establishing a substantially stationary position for said carrier, a leg-rest control linkage operatively connected to said seat control means, and a leg-rest operatively connected to said leg-rest control linkage, said leg-rest control linkage including a link, a pivot on said link, and means guidingly engaging said pivot to move along a path extending substantially fore and aft of said seat, connecting means operatively connected to said body-supporting unit to elevate said leg-rest, an actuating link pivoted to a movable part of said chair other than said seat, said link being operatively connected to said seat control means and to 1 said actuating link for effecting forward displacement of said pivot in response to reclining movement of said bodysupporting unit to simultaneously extend said leg-rest relative to said seat.

3. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest movable relative to each other for inclining and reclining movement respectively and mounted on said support for movement through a first phase of chair movement from a sitting position into an intermediate resting position and for further movement through a second phase from said resting position into a reclining position, seat control means for displacing said seat relative to said back-rest in response to movement of said body-supporting unit, said seat control means including a carrier movably mounted on said support, stop means engageable with said carrier in the sitting position of said body-supporting unit for establishing a substantially stationary position for said carrier, 21 leg-rest control linkage operatively connected to said seat control means, and a leg-rest operatively connected to said leg-rest control linkage, said leg-rest control linkage including a link, a pivot on said link, and means guidingly engaging said pivot to move along a path extending substantially fore and aft of said seat, connecting means operatively connected to said body-supporting unit to elevate said leg-rest, an actuating link pivoted to a movable part of said chair other than said seat, said link being operatively connected to said seat control means and to said actuating means for effecting forward displacement of said pivot in response to reclining movement of said body-supporting unit to simultaneously extend said leg-rest relative to said seat.

4. A reclining chair comprising a support, a bodysupporting unit including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support for movement through a first phase of chair movement from a sitting position into an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for further movement through a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position into a reclining position, body-supporting control means operatively mounting said body-supporting unit on said support, a leg-rest control linkage operatively connected to said seat control means, and a leg-rest operatively connected to said leg-rest control linkage, said legrest control linkage including a link, a pivot on said link,

and means guidingly engaging said pivot to move along a path extending substantially fore and aft of said seat, connecting means operatively connected to said body-supporting unit to elevate said leg-rest, an actuating link pivoted to a movable part of said chair other than said body-supporting unit, said link being operatively connected to said seat control means and to said actuating link for efiecting forward displacement of said pivot in response to reclining movement of said body-supporting unit to simultaneously extend said leg-rest relative to said seat.

5. A reclining chair comprising a support, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest mounted on said support for movement through a first phase of chair movement from a sitting position into an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for further movement through a second movement phase from said intermediate, tilted sitting position into a reclining position, body-supporting control means operatively mounting said body-supporting unit on said support, a leg-rest control linkage operatively connected to said seat control means, and a leg-rest operatively connected to said leg-rest control linkage, said legrest control linkage including a link, a pivot on said link, and means guidingly engaging said pivot to move along a path extending substantially fore and aft of said seat, connecting means operatively connected to said body-supporting unit to elevate said leg-rest, an actuating link pivoted to a movable part of said chair other than said seat, said link being operatively connected to said seat control means and to said actuating link for eltecting forward displacement of said pivot in response to reclining movement of said body-supporting unit to simultaneously extend said leg-rest relative to said seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,568,217 Goodwin Jan. 5, 1926 2,662,582 Lorenz Dec. 15, 1955 2,788,058 Luckhardt Apr. 9, 1957 2,909,213 Winick Oct. 20, 1959 2,989,342 Schliephacke June 20, 1961 3,065,990 Schliephacke Nov. 27, 1962 3,075,808 Lorenz Jan. 29, 1963