Power actuated reclining chair with wall-hugger function

Abstract

A reclining chair has a backrest and a seat, which includes a front seat portion and a rear seat portion. The chair is carried on a mechanized base. The base carries an actuator, which is coupled to a reclining linkage assembly. The reclining linkage assembly applies force in response to operation of the actuator to advance the seat and backrest forward while also tilting the backrest rearward from a generally upright position to a generally reclined position. Advancing the seat and backrest forward while the backrest reclines, keeps the distance between the backrest and an adjacent wall generally constant, regardless of whether the backrest is in the generally upright position and in the generally reclined position. The actuator can also operate a lifting linkage assembly for lifting the seat and tilting the seat forward to assist exit from the chair. A locking mechanism resists extension of an associated footrest linkage when the seat is lifted and tilted forward.

We claim:  
     
         1 . In a reclining chair having a backrest, a seat including a front seat portion, and a base, the improvement comprising: 
 an actuator on the base, and    a reclining linkage assembly coupled to the actuator and including a forward thrust bar on the base adapted to be coupled to the front portion of the seat, the reclining linkage assembly being operable, in response to operation of the actuator, for applying a pushing force to the forward thrust bar to advance the seat and backrest forward while tilting the backrest rearward from a generally upright position to a generally reclined position, whereby distance between the backrest and an adjacent wall remains generally constant when the backrest is in the generally upright position and in the generally reclined position.    
     
     
         2 . In a reclining chair having a backrest, a seat including a front seat portion, and a base, the improvement comprising: 
 an actuator on the base operable in a first mode and in a second mode,    a lifting linkage assembly on the base coupled to the seat and the actuator and being operable, when the actuator operates in the first mode, for lifting the seat and tilting the seat forward to assist exit from the chair, and    a reclining linkage assembly coupled to the actuator and including a forward thrust bar on the base coupled to the front portion of the seat, the reclining linkage assembly being operable, when the actuator operates in the second mode, for applying a pushing force on the forward thrust bar to push the seat and backrest forward while tilting the backrest rearward from a generally upright position to a generally reclined position, whereby distance between the backrest and an adjacent wall remains generally constant when the backrest is in the generally upright position and in the generally reclined position.