Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In a reclining chair having a stationary frame, a
seat mounted on the frame for movement relative to the frame
between normal and reclining positions, and a backrest
pivotally connected to the seat to be movable with the seat
between normal and reclining positions and to be movable
relative to the seat between a partially reclined position and
a fully reclined position; linkage means for supporting said
seat and backrest for movement relative to the frame between
said normal and reclining positions thereof, the linkage means
including a balance link extending below said seat, first pivot
means pivotally mounting said balance link intermediate its
ends to said frame for permitting said balance link to move
relative to said frame, a front mounting link pivotally
interconnecting front portions of said balance link and said
seat, a second, rear mounting link pivotally interconnecting
the backrest and a rear end portion of said balance link, said
first pivot means being located intermediate the connections of
said front and rear mounting links to said balance link, and
restraining means preventing pivoting movement of said balance
link relative to said frame when the chair moves from a normal
to said partially reclined position but permitting pivotal
movement of said balance link about said first pivot means
relative to said frame under actuation by said rear mounting
link when the backrest is moved to a further reclined position
beyond said partially reclined position, said linkage means
including a third, rear mounting link pivotally connected to
said backrest and pivotally connected to said frame forwardly
of said second rear mounting link, the pivotal connection
between said third mounting link and said backrest acting as
a fulcrum for said backrest when moving beyond said partially
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reclined position to a further reclined position, said first
pivot means being located forwardly of the pivotal connection
of the third mounting link to the frame.
2. The reclining chair defined in Claim 1 wherein said
linkage means includes a first stop means fixed to said frame
engageable by said third mounting link when the chair moves
into said partially reclined position for preventing further
movement of said third mounting link as the chair moves beyond
said partially reclined position towards a further reclined
position and permitting said third mounting link to act as a
fulcrum for said backrest when moving beyond said partially
reclined position to said further reclined position, said link-
age means including a further stop means on said seat
engageable with a portion of said backrest for limiting movement
of said backrest to a fully reclined position beyond said
partially reclined position.
3. The reclining chair defined in Claim 1 wherein said
restraining means includes a stop on said third mounting link
and a portion projecting from said second mounting link and
engageable with said stop.
4. The reclining chair defined in Claim 1 wherein said
backrest includes a primary backrest to which said seat and
rear mounting links are pivotally connected as aforesaid, and
a secondary backrest movable between a retracted position
behind the primary backrest and an extended position projected
beyond the primary backrest when the chair is moved into said
partially reclined position, and wherein there is further
included a second linkage means for mounting and actuating said
secondary backrest said second linkage means including a pair
of secondary backrest links pivotally connected to said
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secondary backrest, a secondary backrest mounting link pivoted
intermediate its ends to said primary backrest for rotation
relative thereto, said secondary backrest links being
pivotally connected to said backrest mounting link at one side
of the pivot of the secondary backrest mounting link to said
primary backrest, and a secondary backrest actuator link
pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said secondary
backrest mounting link at the side of it pivot to said primary
backrest opposite the side of said secondary backrest links,
one end portion of said actuator link being pivotally mounted
relative to said frame while the other end of said actuator
link being pivotally connected to one of said secondary
backrest links; said second linkage means further including
a connecting link pivotally interconnecting said actuator
link and one of said secondary backrest links.
5. The reclining chair defined in Claim 4 further
including a footrest movable between a retracted position
underlying said seat and an extended position projected
forwardly from the front of the seat, and wherein there is
further included third linkage means for mounting and actuating
said footrest between said extended and retracted positions
thereof,said third linkage means including said front mounting
link which actuates said third linkage means between extended
and retracted positions of said footrest.
6. The reclining chair defined in Claim 5 wherein said
third linkage means includes a pair of generally parallel
footrest links pivotally connected at spaced locations to
said footrest, and wherein there is further included a leg
support for supporting the calves of the legs and being
movable between a retracted position below said seat and an
extended position projected forwardly of said seat but rear-
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wardly of said footrest, said third linkage means further
including a leg support mounting link fixed to said leg support
and pivotally connected to said footrest at the same location
as one of said footrest links, and a leg support actuator link
pivotally connected to the other of said footrest links and
pivotally connected intermediate the ends of said leg support
mounting link for causing actuation of said leg support between
said extended and retracted positions thereof.
7. The reclining chair defined in Claim 1 further
including a footrest movable between a retracted position
underlying said seat and an extended position projected for-
wardly from the front of the seat, and wherein there is further
included second linkage means for mounting and actuating said
footrest between said extended and retracted positions thereof,
said second linkage means including said front mounting link
which actuates said second linkage means between extended and
retracted positions of said footrest.
8. The reclining chair defined in Claim 7 wherein said
second linkage means includes a pair of generally parallel
footrest links pivotally connected at spaced locations to said
footrest, and wherein there is further included a leg support
for supporting the calves of the legs and being movable between
a retracted position below said seat and an extended position
projected forwardly of said seat but rearwardly of said
footrest, said second linkage means further including a leg
support mounting link fixed to said leg support and pivotally
connected to said footrest at the same location as one of said
footrest links, and a leg support actuator link pivotally
connected to the other of said footrest links and pivotally
connected intermediate the ends of said leg support mounting
link for causing actuation of said leg support between said
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extended and retracted positions of said leg support.
9. In a reclining chair as in Claim 1 including a primary
backrest movable between a normal generally upright position
and a reclining position extending at an incline to the vertical;
a secondary backrest and linkage means mounting said secondary
backrest to the primary backrest for movement between a
retracted position located behind the primary backrest when the
latter is in the upright position and an extended position
projected beyond the primary backrest when the latter is in a
reclined position,said linkage means including a mounting link
pivoted intermediate its ends thereof to said primary backrest
for rotation relative thereto a pair of secondary backrest
links pivotally connected to said secondary backrest and also
pivotally connected to said mounting link at one side of the
pivotal connection of the mounting link to the primary backrest,
an actuator link having one end portion mounted for pivotal
movement relative to the chair and an opposite end portion
pivotally connected to one of said secondary backrest links,
said actuator link being pivotally connected intermediate its
ends to said mounting link on the opposite side of the pivotal
connection of the mounting link to the primary backrest.
10. The chair defined in Claim 9 wherein said one of said
secondary backrest links is pivotally connected to said mounting
link at one of the ends thereof and wherein the other secondary
backrest link is pivotally connected to said mounting link at
a point intermediate the pivotal connection to the primary
backrest and the pivotal connection to said one secondary
backrest link.
11. The chair defined in Claim 9 further including a
fulcrum means about which said primary backrest moves when
moving between a partially reclined position at which said
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secondary backrest is in the extended position and a fully
reclined position and at which said secondary remains in said
extended position, and wherein the pivotal connection of said
actuator link and the chair is adjacent but eccentric relative
to the fulcrum means when the primary backrest is in the
partially and fully reclined positions such that the angle
between the primary backrest and secondary backrest is greater
in the fully reclined position than in the partially reclined
position.
12. For use in a reclining chair having a stationary
frame, a seat mounted on the frame for movement relative to
the frame between normal and reclining positions, and a backrest
pivotally connected to the seat to be movable with the seat
between normal and reclining positions and to be movable
relative to the seat between a partially reclined position and
a fully reclined position; a linkage means for supporting said
seat and backrest for movement relative to the frame between
said normal and reclining positions thereof, the linkage means
including a seat link adapted to be fixed to the seat to be
movable therewith, a backrest link adapted to be fixed to the
backrest to be movable therewith, said backrest link being
pivotally connected to a rear end portion of said seat link,
a frame link adapted to be fixed to the frame and extending
generally below said seat link and rearwardly thereof, a balancing
link extending generally between said frame and seat link and
pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said frame link,
a front mounting link pivotally connected to front portions
of said seat link and said balancing link, a rear mounting
link pivotally connected to said backrest link and to a rear
end portion of said balancing link, and restraining means for
preventing pivotal movement of said balancing link relative
to said frame link when the backrest is moved from a normal
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generally upright position to a partially reclined position
but permitting pivotal movement of said balancing link relative
to said frame link under actuation by said rear mounting link
when the backrest is moved to a further reclined position
beyond said partially reclined position, and wherein said
restraining means includes a stop on said frame link and
a portion projecting from said rear mounting link and
engageable with said stop.
13. For use in a reclining chair having a stationary frame,
a seat mounted on the frame for movement relative to the frame
between normal and reclining positions, and a backrest pivotally
connected to the seat to be movable with the seat between
normal and reclining positions and to be movable relative to
the seat between a partially reclined position and a fully
reclined position, a linkage means for supporting said seat and
backrest for movement relative to the frame between said normal
and reclining positions thereof, the linkage means including
a seat link adapted to be fixed to the seat to be movable
therewith, a backrest link adapted to be fixed to the backrest
to be movable therewith, said backrest link being pivotally
connected to a rear end portion of said seat link, a frame link
adapted to be fixed to the frame and extending generally below
said seat link and rearwardly thereof, a balancing link extend-
ing generally between said frame and seat link and pivotally
connected intermediate its ends to said frame link, a front
mounting link pivotally connected to front portions of said
seat link and said balancing link, a rear mounting link
pivotally connected to said backrest link and to a rear end
portion of said balancing link, and restraining means for
preventing pivotal movement of said balancing link relative
to said frame link when the backrest is moved from a normal
generally upright position to a partially reclined position
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but permitting pivotal movement of said balancing link relative
to said frame link under actuation by said rear mounting link
when the backrest is moved to a further reclined position
beyond said partially reclined position, and wherein the back-
rest includes a primary backrest to which said seat and rear
mounting links are pivotally connected as aforesaid, and a
secondary backrest movable between a retracted position behind
the primary backrest and an extended position projected beyond
the primary backrest when the chair is moved into said partially
reclined position; a second linkage means for mounting and
actuating said secondary backrest, said second linkage means
including a secondary backrest bracket adapted to be fixed to
the secondary backrest, a pair of secondary backrest links pivot-
ally connected to said secondary backrest bracket, a secondary
backrest mounting link pivoted intermediate its ends to said
backrest link for rotation relative thereto, said secondary
backrest links being pivotally connected to said backrest
mounting link at one side of the pivotal connection to said
backrest link, and a secondary backrest actuator link pivotally
connected intermediate its ends to said secondary backrest
mounting link at the side of its pivot to said backrest link
opposite the side of said secondary backrest links, one end
portion of said actuator link being pivotally connected relative
to said frame link while the other end of said actuator link
being pivotally connected to one of said secondary backrest
links.
14. For use in a reclining chair having a stationary
frame, a seat mounted on the frame for movement relative to the
frame between normal and reclining positions, and a backrest
pivotally connected to the seat to be movable with the seat
between normal and reclining positions and to be movable
relative to the seat between a partially reclined position and
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a fully reclined position; a linkage means for supporting said
seat and backrest for movement relative to the frame between
said normal and reclining positions thereof, the linkage means
including a seat link adapted to be fixed to the seat to be
movable therewith, a backrest link adapted to be fixed to the
backrest to be movable therewith, said backrest link being
pivotally connected to a rear end portion of said seat link,
a frame link adapted to be fixed to the frame and extending
generally below said seat link and rearwardly thereof, a
balancing link extending generally between said frame and seat
link and pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said
frame link, a front mounting link pivotally connected to front
portions of said seat link and said balancing link, a rear
mounting link pivotally connected to said backrest link and to
a rear end portion of said balancing link, and restraining
means for preventing pivotal movement of said balancing link
relative to said frame link when the backrest is moved from a
normal generally upright position to a partially reclined
position but permitting pivotal movement of said balancing link
relative to said frame link under actuation by said rear mounting
link when the backrest is moved to a further reclined position
beyond said partially reclined position, and wherein the back-
rest includes a primary backrest to which said seat and rear
mounting links are pivotally connected as aforesaid, and a
secondary backrest movable between a retracted position behind
the primary backrest and an extended position projected beyond
the primary backrest when the chair is moved into said partially
reclined position; a second linkage means for mounting and
actuating said secondary backrest, said second linkage means
including a secondary backrest bracket adapted to be fixed to
the secondary backrest, a pair of secondary backrest links
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pivotally connected to said secondary backrest bracket, a
secondary backrest mounting link pivoted intermediate its ends
to said backrest link for rotation relative thereto, said
secondary backrest links being pivotally connected to said
backrest mounting link at one side of the pivotal connection
to said backrest link, and a secondary backrest actuator link
pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said secondary
backrest mounting link at the side of its pivot to said
backrest link opposite the side of said secondary backrest
links, one end portion of said actuator link being pivotally
connected relative to said frame link while the other end
of said actuator link being pivotally connected to one of said
secondary backrest links, and wherein the pivotal connection
of the third rear mounting link to the primary backrest link
is adjacent but eccentric to the pivotal connection of the
secondary backrest actuator link to said frame whereby when
the backrest moves into a position beyond the partially
reclined position into a fully reclined position, the angle
between the secondary backrest and the primary backrest is
greater in the fully reclined position than in the partially
reclined position.
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