Abstract: A lift-recliner chair includes a base portion and a seat portion pivotally connected to the base portion about a first pivot axis. The chair also includes a back portion pivotally connected to the seat portion about a second pivot axis and an actuator assembly for moving the seat portion with respect to the base and back portions with respect to the seat portion to alter the chair configuration. The base portion includes a pair of substantially vertical side panels and a rear panel extending between the side panels. The seat portion includes a seat frame having a pair of substantially vertical side panels arranged substantially parallel with and adjacent to the respective side panels of the base portion and a curved rear panel extending between the side panels of the base portion. The center of curvature of the curved rear panel is substantially coincident with the first pivot axis.
Abstract: One aspect of the invention concerns a lift-recliner chair comprising a base portion (12), a seat portion (14) pivotally connected to the base portion, a back portion (16) pivotally connected to the seat portion and a first actuator (62) for moving the seat portion with respect to the base portion and a second actuator (64) for moving the back portion with respect to the seat portion so as to alter the configuration of the chair. The actuators are substantially enclosed within the base portion of the chair between a pair of opposed structural base portion side panels (18) in all configurations of the chair. The seat portion is pivotally connected to the side panels (18) and is movable between a retracted and nested position within the base portion to an raised position in which it is telescopically extended from the base. The nested configuration can reduce the risk of entrapment between moving parts of the chair.