Abstract: A recliner has a layer of upholstery fixed to the seat and extending continuously and fixed to the footrest frame which is moveable to a retracted position below and rearwardly of the front end of the seat with the upholstery extending about and under the front end of the seat. In one embodiment the footrest frame includes two ottoman boards mounted to a footrest linkage which includes a five bar linkage for actuating the ottoman boards. Additionally, a pair of locking links are mounted to the footrest linkage and connected to each other for releaseably holding the footrest linkage in retracted position.

Abstract: A recliner has a layer of upholstery fixed to the seat and extending continuously and fixed to a footrest frame which is moveable to a retracted position below the front end of the seat with the upholstery extending about and vertically below the front end of the seat. The footrest frame may include one or two ottoman boards mounted to a footrest linkage which will cause an ottoman board to pull the upholstery layer taut. In one embodiment, a pair of locking links are mounted to the footrest linkage and connected to each other for releaseably holding the footrest linkage in retracted position. In another embodiment where two ottoman boards are used, two pairs of conventional four bar linkages may be incorporated in the footrest linkage without sacrificing the desired contour of the upholstery.

Abstract: A three-way recliner chair in which a linkage system mounts a seat and backrest assembly to a stationary armrest frame for reclining movement between a generally upright or closed position, a TV position and advanced reclining positions beyond TV position. The chair is actuated to TV and reclining positions by pushing rearwardly off the armrests and against the backrest. The seat and backrest assemblies are mounted to front and rear carrier links which, in turn, are mounted by front and rear mounting links to the armrest frame. A sequencer link is pivotally connected between the front carrier link and the armrest frame to prevent relative movement between the seat and backrest when the chair is in the upright position. However, when the chair is moved towards TV position, the sequencer link will allow relative movement between the backrest and the seat.

Abstract: A rocking chair having a fixed base, and a seat frame mounted on the base for rocking movement by means of a plurality of rocker cams mounted one behind the other. The rocker cams are pivotally mounted to one of the base or seat frame and having arcuate surfaces engaged against the other of the base or seat frame. This achieves a predetermined desired motion of the seat relative to the base. In one embodiment, a pair of such rocking cams are provided in tandem on each side of the chair. In another embodiment, only a single pair of cams are provided in tandem at a central portion of the chair. In another embodiment three cams are provided in a triangular arrangement.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for a reclining chair or sofa module allows the backrest to be placed virtually against a nearby wall in a room without offering any obstruction when the chair is placed into reclining position. The mechanism may incorporate a backrest of an average of conventional length and, in the preferred embodiment, the mechanism is driven to TV position by the weight of the chair occupant upon release of a locking means which holds the mechanism in the normal or closed position. Preferably, a manually-operable handle positioned on one side of the chair in accordance with conventional practice, is utilized to release the lock mechanism. Once in TV position, the chair may be moved to advanced reclining positions by the occupant exerting pressure on the backrest during which time the backrest will not strike the adjacent wall.

Abstract: A rocker-recliner chair utilizing but two mounting links for mounting the seat and backrest to the rocker cams and which mounting links are also utilized to position the chair in advanced reclining positions beyond the TV position. The chair is biased to the TV position wherein the footrest is extended, by the weight of the chair occupant acting through the rear mounting link. However, the chair is retained in upright position against the gravity basis by a spring-loaded lock mechanism which is actuated by a handle to release the lock mechanism to allow the occupant's weight to drive the chair to TV position. When moving to TV position, the seat undergoes a certain amount of rearward displacement relative to the rocking cams to position the weight of the occupant to the rear while a "landing gear" stop descends to engage the base to thus prevent rearward rocking of the chair.

Abstract: An air mattress comprising an inflatable and deflatable flexible body enclosing an air chamber having a resilient means urging the opposite upper and lower walls of the body apart while being yieldable to permit the body to be folded and deflated. In one embodiment, removable a closure is attached to the body to be received in a portal in the wall of the body to seal the chamber closed. When the body is unfolded into a generally horizontal or planar position with the portal opened, the resilient means within the body will separate the upper and lower walls of the body drawing air from the atmosphere into the chamber, the portal may then be closed to seal the air in the chamber. The air mattress is illustrated on a foldable bed including frame portions which are foldable into overlying positions to fold and deflate the mattress and which are unfoldable into a horizontal position to unfold and inflate the mattress.

Abstract: In a one-way recliner chair of the type having a stationary backrest frame which extends upwardly behind a movable backrest, a headrest is mounted on the top of the stationary backrest frame for movement between a retracted position when the chair is in the normal position, and a projected position when the chair is in the reclining position. The headrest is automatically actuated between the aforesaid positions by means of a linklage interconnecting the headrest and the movable backrest upon movement of the latter between a normal or generally upright position and a reclining position.

Abstract: A footrest assembly for a reclining chair wherein the support members of the footrest are substantially concealed from view even when in the extended position projected forwardly from the front of the chair. In the preferred embodiments, the assembly includes a flexible cover of sheet-like material attached between the footrest and the seat frame. In one preferred embodiment, the cover is also attached to the footrest support members. The footrest support members are preferably formed by an extendable and retractable linkage system whose links are arranged in a novel manner to allow the cover to substantially conceal the same.

Abstract: A footrest assembly for a reclining chair wherein the support members of the footrest are substantially concealed from a view even when in the extended position projected forwardly from the front of the chair. The assembly includes a flexible cover of sheet-like material attached between the footrest and the seat frame while also being attached to the footrest support members to cover the same. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the footrest support members are formed by an extendable and retractable linkage system whose links are arranged in a novel manner to allow the cover to be attached thereto in tailored fashion.

Abstract: A two-way actuator is provided for a reclining chair preferably of the type that is driven to the reclining positions by the weight of the chair occupant. In such chairs, the reclining mechanisms are typically linkage systems that are held in retracted position by a lock mechanism. A release is provided to actuate the lock mechanism to permit the weight of the chair occupant to drive the reclining mechanism to TV position wherein the footrest is extended. The two-way actuator of the present invention is connected to the release so that the chair occupant may rotate a handle in the form of a knob, for example, in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction to actuate the release to open the lock mechanism and thereby permit movement of the chair to the TV position.

Abstract: A rocking chair whose rocking action is achieved solely through a linkage mechanism rather than rocking cams conventionally employed. In one embodiment, the chair includes upholstered seat, backrest and armrests which are united in a one-piece structure mounted on a fixed base by means of the linkage mechanism. In the preferred embodiment, the base is provided with a swivel enabling the chair to swivel about a vertical axis. The linkage mechanism allows it to be mounted within the seat frame into a compact space which permits low seat styling and yet, the linkage mechanism is concealed and still functions to provide stable rocking as well as gliding action. In another embodiment, the chair is provided with a footrest and the seat is moveable relative to the swivel into a reclining position when the footrest is extended. Additionally, the backrest may be either fixed to the seat in the manner of a "one-way" recliner or moveable relative to the seat as in a "three-way" recliner chair.

Abstract: A rocking chair whose rocking action is achieved solely through a linkage mechanism rather than rocking cams conventionally employed. The chair includes upholstered seat, backrest and armrests which are united in a one-piece structure mounted on a fixed base by means of the linkage mechanism. In the preferred embodiment, the base is provided with a swivel enabling the chair to swivel about a vertical axis. The linkage mechanism allows it to be mounted within the seat frame into a compact space which permits low seat styling and yet, the linkage mechanism is concealed and still functions to provide stable rocking as well as gliding action.

Abstract: A handle-operated, wall-avoiding, three-way recliner utilizes a track system for moving the chair from the TV position to the fully reclined position. However, in contrast to conventional "track recliners", the track does not come into play until the chair has been moved to the TV position through means of a linkage system. Such movement is preferably initiated by a handle operatively connected to the footrest linkage which is biased closed by a yieldable spring mechanism.

Abstract: A rocker-recliner chair including a base, rocker cams mounted on the base, a unitary seat and armrest assembly mounted on the rocker cams by a novel linkage system for movement between a closed or generally upright position with the associated footrest closed, a TV position wherein the footrest has been extended and the seat inclined relative to the rocker cam, and any one of a number of advanced reclining positions where the footrest remains extended and the backrest has moved relative to the seat while the seat has moved relative to the rocker cam. When the chair is in the TV or any advanced reclining position, a "rock-blocking" mechanism prevents forward-rearward rocking of the cams relative to the base, however, the cams are permitted to rock rearwardly to permit movement of the seat into advanced reclining positions. In the preferred embodiment, actuation of the footrest to the TV position is initiated by means of a handle positioned on one side of the chair.

Abstract: A trigger release mechanism is provided for a reclining chair especially of the type which is locked in a normal or closed position but which will automatically move into a reclining TV position upon release of a lock mechanism. The trigger release mechanism includes a small lever or trigger mounted on one side of the chair to be conveniently engaged by the chair occupant. A connecting member such as a cable depends from the trigger and is connected to the lock mechanism to actuate it to permit the chair to move to the TV position wherein the footrest is extended.

Abstract: A three-way, wall-avoiding, recliner chair having an improved actuation system which minimizes the effort and attention required of the chair occupant to actuate the chair to reclining position from the normal generally upright position of the chair. The improved actuation system is achieved by a novel seat linkage mechanism mounting the seat and backrest to a fixed base such that when the occupant sits in the chair when the chair is in the normal generally upright position with the footrest closed, the seat linkage mechanism is urged by the occupant's weight to extend the footrest while moving the seat and backrest forwardly relative to the base into the TV position. However, a releasable lock mechanism is provided to restrain the seat linkage mechanism from moving to the TV position as aforementioned.

Abstract: A recliner chair having a seat and backrest rigidly interconnected to move as a unit and being mounted on a stationary frame for movement into reclining positions by the chair occupant pulling-off the armrests which are included as part of the stationary frame. The footrest mechanism is actuated to extended position when the seat and backrest unit is moved into reclining position by means of the linkage mechanisms which mount the seat and backrest unit to the main frame; the latter being effected through a drive transmission linkage interconnecting the footrest mechanism with the mounting mechanism of the seat and backrest unit. The footrest mechanism provides dual footrest or leg supports which are positioned generally in vertical planes one behind the other at the front of the chair when in the retracted position.

Abstract: A rocker-recliner chair including a base, rocker cams mounted on the base, a unitary seat and armrest assembly mounted on the rocker cams by a novel linkage system for movement between a closed or generally upright position with the associated footrest closed, a TV position wherein the footrest has been extended and the seat inclined relative to the rocker cam, and any one of a number of advanced reclining positions where the footrest remains extended and the backrest has moved relative to the seat while the seat has moved relative to the rocker cam. When the chair is in the TV or any advanced reclining position, a "rock-blocking" mechanism prevents forward-rearward rocking of the cams relative to the base, however, the cams are permitted to rock rearwardly to permit movement of the seat into advanced reclining positions. In the preferred embodiment, actuation of the footrest to the TV position is initiated by means of a handle positioned on one side of the chair.