Manually-operated spring-assisted reclining chairs

摘要

A spring-assisted trigger handle assembly for a three-way, wall-proximity reclining chair which is movable from an end-limiting upright position, to a TV position, and then to an end-limiting fully-reclined position. The handle assembly is operative for affirmatively forwardly driving the linkage system for the chair only as the latter is moved from its initial upright position to an intermediate chair position which is between the two end-limiting chair positions. A tensioned spring assists the handle assembly in forwardly driving the linkage system once the handle assembly has moved the chair to the general vicinity of the intermediate chair position. The body weight of a seated user is thereupon conveniently utilized to assist the spring at the end of its operation to move the chair to the TV position. The tensioned spring secures the chair in the upright position in an over-center locked condition until the handle assembly causes the spring to suddenly release its stored energy. The handle assembly eventually disengages from the linkage system when the chair reaches the intermediate position. A handle for the handle assembly is freely returnable by gravity to its initial position.