Reclining Lounge Chair

Abstract

An improved reclining lounge chair is described, which comprises a footrest that is pivotally connected to a center seat member by a footrest attachment axle, and in which the footrest position is controlled by a footrest lift mechanism. While the lounge chair is its non-reclined upright position the footrest is oriented approximately vertical. In this approximately vertical orientation the footrest doesn't extend significantly forward of the center seat member, thus allowing an occupant easy access to the chair from the front. In its fully reclined position the footrest rotates into an approximately horizontal orientation, providing a comfortable reclined position.

1 . A reclining lounge chair, comprising:
 a center seat member;   a backrest, the backrest being operatively connected to the center seat member;   a footrest, the footrest being pivotally connected to the center seat member by a footrest attachment axle;
 wherein the center seat member, the backrest, and the footrest form a seat assembly, which is pivotally connected to a base frame by a seat attachment axle at the center seat member, and 
 wherein the seat assembly may rotate about the seat attachment axle between an upright position and a fully reclined position without changing the relative alignment of backrest and center seat section; 
   a footrest lift mechanism, the front end of the footrest lift mechanism being pivotally connected to the footrest by a front footrest lift axle, and the rear end of the footrest lift mechanism being pivotally connected to the base frame by a rear footrest lift axle;   wherein the rear footrest lift axle is located below the seat attachment axle, and   wherein the footrest lift mechanism causes the footrest to rotate about the footrest attachment axle by more than 60° but less than 125° when the seat assembly is rotated from the upright position to the fully reclined position.   
   
   
       2 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the footrest rotates by more than 80° about the footrest attachment axle when the seat assembly is rotated from the upright position to the fully reclined position. 
   
   
       3 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the footrest rotates by less than 100° about the footrest attachment axle when the seat assembly is rotated from the upright position to the fully reclined position. 
   
   
       4 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the rear footrest lift axle is located forward of the seat attachment axle. 
   
   
       5 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the rear footrest lift axle is located below the seat attachment axle. 
   
   
       6 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein during regular use the backrest is at a predetermined, fixed angle relative to the center seat member, and wherein the backrest can be folded onto the center seat member to assume a storage position. 
   
   
       7 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the rear footrest lift axle is located above the seat attachment axle. 
   
   
       8 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the front footrest lift axle is forward of the footrest attachment axle while the chair is in its upright position. 
   
   
       9 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the front footrest lift axle is rearward of the footrest attachment axle while the chair is in its fully reclined position. 
   
   
       10 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the seat attachment axle and the rear footrest lift axle is less than 15% of the height of the seat attachment axle from the floor. 
   
   
       11 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the footrest attachment axle and the front footrest lift axle is less than 15% of the height of the seat attachment axle from the floor. 
   
   
       12 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein the front footrest lift axle is at a height between the footrest attachment axle and the floor. 
   
   
       13 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , wherein
 the base frame comprises two base frame members, one of which is located left of the seat assembly and one of which is located right of the seat assembly, and wherein   the footrest lift mechanism comprises two footrest lift bars, which are located inside of and adjacent to each of the two base frame members.   
   
   
       14 . The reclining chair as in  claim 1 , further comprising a latch mechanism, which latches the chair in one of two or more predetermined reclining positions. 
   
   
       15 . The reclining chair as in  claim 14 , wherein the latch mechanism is located between two parts of the chair that rotate relative to each other while reclining. 
   
   
       16 . The reclining chair as in  claim 14 , wherein the latch mechanism is located on the inside of the base frame around the rear footrest lift axle. 
   
   
       17 . The reclining chair as in  claim 14 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises
 a latch disk with alternating radially aligned protrusions and recesses that is attached torsionally rigid to the base frame, and   a sliding element which rotates about the disk's center axis,   wherein the sliding element comprises at least one protrusion, which is pushed into the latch disk by a latch spring.   
   
   
       18 . The reclining chair as in  claim 17 , comprising two or more identical protrusions and recesses. 
   
   
       19 . The reclining chair as in  claim 17 , comprising two or more protrusions and recesses which are different in at least one of size, width, and slope angle.