Wall-avoiding recliner chair

Abstract

A recliner chair with wall-avoiding action which permits the chair to be placed adjacent a wall without striking the wall when the chair is moved to reclining positions. The wall-avoiding action is achieved through a linkage which suspends the seat and its rigidly incorporated armrests, relative to a fixed base for swinging movement between a normal or generally upright position, and a number of reclining positions where the backrest extends rearwardly at an incline and the seat also extends at an incline. A handle-operated footrest is provided and an actuating and control link is connected between linkage which actuates the footrest and the linkage which mounts the seat to the base so as to move the latter forwardly relative to the base when the footrest is moved to extended position to provide a certain amount of wall-avoiding action. This actuating and control link prevents movement of the backrest relative to the seat when the chair is in normal position or is operated to extend the footrest. However, once the footrest is in extended to 'TV' position, the backrest may be pivoted rearwardly relative to the seat to provide advanced reclining positions by the occupant exerting back pressure on the backrest. This also operates to swing the seat forwardly and upwardly relative to the base to provide further wall-avoiding action and also to position the seat in a comfortable reclining position. The chair is maintained in any of its positions by virtue of the balance of the linkage system, and no spring assists are needed to help to maintain position or move the chain into any new position.