Patent Publication Number: US-9839292-B2

Title: Rotating and non-rotating reclining chairs w/tilting mechanisms

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/853,824 filed Apr. 12, 2013. The invention involves recliner chairs, preferably rotating or swiveling types, and particularly having new, compact and easy to use mechanisms for achieving the reclining and/or declining feature, and optional features that enhance the functionality and overall pleasure and convenience while enjoying the chairs. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Most reclining chairs have a mechanism that comprises a plurality of pivoting link members on each side of the chair, or one or more telescoping tubes, that extend and retract to recline and decline and to raise and lower the leg rest. These chairs also have a square or rectangular shape or base that extends to the floor. Recently, other mechanisms for reclining the chair back have been introduced that permits the chair to rest on a single round rod, pipe or other vertical support including a generally vertical support on each side of the chair, the former usually nesting in a lower vertical pipe or mount attached at or near its bottom end to a low profile round base. These latter mechanisms allow the reclining chair, comprising a seat, two armrests and a back, to rotate, swivel horizontally with respect to the base. These mechanisms offer new chair designs that look very different than conventional reclining chairs, but have limitations including limited reclining range, having to unlock a reclining mechanism by turning a wheel, knob or lever and then having to relock the mechanism by turning the wheel, knob or lever in the opposite direction, difficulty of causing recline and decline and usually a lack of an attached lifting leg/foot rest. Because of one or more of these limitations, these chairs are usually offered with a matching footstool, objectionable to some people, and are often not preferred over the more conventional reclining chairs having greater ease and range of recline and a lifting/lowering foot/leg rest that is part of the reclining chair. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention includes a reclining and/or declining chair comprising a chair seat frame and/or a seat plate and/or a seat supported by one or more vertical or generally vertical member(s), when the chair is in a normal sitting position, and having one or more first mechanisms for changing the angle that the one or more vertical or generally vertical support member(s) make with vertical, tilting, to cause a reclining or declining of the chair, the chair also comprising a padded seat, a base, optional armrests, one or more optional storage compartments and a back rest. The reclining and/or declining chair can also have a leg rest with or without a mechanism to raise and lower the leg rest. Preferably, but not necessarily, the reclining and/or declining chair can rotate or swivel up to 360 degrees, more of less, because the vertical or generally vertical support for the seat plate or frame can rotate or swivel with respect to the base of the chair, with the uniqueness residing in the simplicity of the reclining mechanism and the resulting lower manufacturing cost, appearance and use benefits. By generally vertical is meant within about 5-20 degrees from vertical, preferably within 10 degrees or even within 5 degrees from vertical. The vertical or generally vertical one or more support(s) typically have a reclining range of up to 45 degrees or less from a normal sitting position, more typically up to about 35 degrees and even more typically an angle of up to about 10, or 15, or about 15 to about 25 degrees in any increments thereof. The vertical or generally vertical one or more support(s) typically have a declining range of any angle up to about 15 degrees from the normal sitting position, i.e. with the seat being about horizontal, more typically any angle up to about 12 or 10 or 8 or 5 or 4 degrees. When the word “chair” is used in the description of the invention it means a combination of a seat, a back rest, a base and a declining and/or reclining mechanism, and optionally can have other features including a leg rest and/or a foot rest, armrests and one or more storage compartments and one or more article holders. 
     The invention involves a reclining chair that is supported by a vertical or generally vertical member, optionally a chair that pivots or rotates around its base, and having one or more new and improved mechanisms for changing the angle the vertical or generally vertical member makes with vertical to cause a reclining or declining of the chair, and optionally one or more mechanisms for raising a leg and/or foot rest. Further, the chair can optionally have one or two hinged arm rests with a chamber below the armrest for storing books, magazines, newspapers, or other items, and optionally a removable, pivoting tray, like or similar to those used on some passenger airplane seats. The arm rest(s) can also optionally have one or more recessed cup holders, controls for the recliner mechanism and/or leg rest mechanism, light switch, and one or more recesses to hold remotes for video and/or audio devices including a TV, stereo, tuner, DVD and/or CD player and the like. 
     The chair of the invention preferably both reclines, returns and slightly declines to permit easier ingress and egress, all done with an electric, mechanical, manual, air, or hydraulic driven actuator mechanism selected from a group of mechanisms, many of which are described below. The chair itself can be of any of many shapes as desired, as can the base that sits on a reasonably flat surface, usually on a floor, and supports the chair. The chair is comprised of a seat and backrest, and optionally, one or more arm rests, a leg rest and/or a footrest. The recliner is comprised of a chair, a base, an upper support, a reclining mechanism and optionally a lower support, a leg and/or footrest and a declining mechanism, the latter that can be incorporated in the reclining mechanism. Optionally, the recliner can optionally have one or more arm rests, preferably hinged, a leg rest and/or footrest raising and lowering mechanism, and one or more accessories including one or more storage compartments for magazines, books, retractable tray and other things, cup holders, remote control holder(s), cell phone holders, built in controls, retractable tray(s), and reading lights. Preferably, the backrest also reclines and returns to a sitting or exiting position and more preferably the reclining and returning is accomplished with a mechanism controlled by the user. 
     The invention also involves mechanisms for attaching to a chair, preferably to a frame or plate attached to the seat and/or arm(s) of the chair comprised of a seat, a back and, a base, and optionally one or two arms, the mechanism also attached to the base of the chair via a linear support, the base of the chair comprising a low profile stabilizing base and a support for the mechanism(s), preferably a support that allows the chair to rotate horizontally. The mechanisms, which can be manual but preferably are electrically powered, operate to change the angle from vertical of an upper linear support member that is attached one or more a frame or plate or plate like member, the changing of the angle of the upper linear support acting to recline or incline, or optionally even decline, the chair back and seat, and optional arms. 
     The mechanisms comprise an upper support, preferably linear and including a pipe, cylinder, box channel, rod and other shapes for attaching to a rigid frame or rigid plate or plate like member that attaches to the chair, preferably to a frame or plate attached to underneath of the chair seat and/or arm rests or arm rest support(s) of the chair. While the frame can be mounted to the backrest of the chair, but that is normally more expensive and not preferred. The upper linear support can be of any reasonable shape and/or cross section shape, but preferably is a straight or bent cylinder, rod, beam, box channel or pipe, even with one end mashed to form an oval or racetrack shape. As the upper linear support axis is tilted to various angles from vertical the chair reclines and as the upper linear support axis is tilted to various angles in the opposite direction the chair reverses to a normal upright position, or optionally even to a declining position to enable the sitter to more easily leave and enter the reclined chair. The upper linear support attaches on its lower end to another member of the mechanism, this other member differing depending on the type of the rest of the mechanism. While a linear upper support is preferred, the upper support need not be linear, but can be curved, angled or spiraled. In the invention the chair seat is reclined and declined by changing the angle of the generally vertical support supporting the chair seat, seat plate and/or chair seat frame makes with the vertical. The generally vertical support can be in one piece that extends to a holder mounted in or on the base or can be attached to another vertical or generally vertical support, a lower support, in a manner that allows the upper generally vertical support to change its angle with respect to vertical. The generally vertical support, whether in one or more pieces, is supported by a holder, in or on the base, such that the generally vertical support can rotate clockwise and counterclockwise up to 360 degrees or more. 
     One preferred feature of the mechanisms of the invention allows the upper vertical or generally vertical linear support to tilt away from vertical in one direction and back, or optionally in two opposite directions from vertical by causing the upper linear support to pivot around a pin or bolt supported by, or to pivot on a rounded upper surface of, the lower vertical support. The power and control of the pivot direction and amount is preferably a device like a linear actuator powered either electrically, directly or indirectly, or can be manual, e.g. with a rack and pinon and manual drive wheel, lever, etc. By indirectly is meant where electrical current is used to drive a motor to a gear drive, compressor, hydraulic pump or other device that will provide power to a linear actuator or device that will push and pull the chair support to cause at least an upper portion of the chair support to tilt in various desired angles, preferably in the same or nearly the same plane. 
     Other mechanisms for tilting the vertical or generally vertical support, or an upper portion thereof, such as containing two or more wheels or guides that support the upper vertical or generally vertical support in the desired path, by rolling or sliding against a curved surface or guide while tilting the vertical or generally vertical support, or an upper portion thereof, with respect to the vertical are included in this invention with some preferred embodiments thereof shown and described herein. Other optional features, e.g. manual or otherwise powered backrest, leg/foot rests, hinged arm rests, storage compartments, cup, remote (chair, TV, etc.) holders, lamps, and optional fixed controls in arm rests, and various trays are also included with some embodiments shown herein. 
     Those skilled in this art will appreciate that the pivots, hinges between parts or other components can take a variety of configurations, such as pivot pins, rivets, bolt and nut combinations, and the like, any of which may be suitable for use with the present invention. Also, the shapes and configurations of the links or parts themselves may vary, as will be understood by those skilled in this art, so long as they perform the same function in substantially the same manner. Further, some parts may be omitted entirely in some embodiments, and additional parts may be included in some embodiments. Various chairs in which the reclining and/or declining action is exclusively achieved by mechanisms entirely within a seat support plate or seat support frame are excluded from the invention if they do not tilt, with respect to vertical, a vertical or generally vertical, rotatatable, support that is part of, or movably, including pivotaly, attached to, a vertical or generally vertical, rotatable lower support located beneath a seat support plate or seat support frame. 
     Herein, when a range of number values is disclosed it is to be understood by those of ordinary skill in the appropriate art(s) that each numerical value in between the upper limit and the lower limit of the range is also disclosed, to at least 0.01 of a full number. Thus in a range of 1 to 10, this includes 2.04 to 10, 3.06 to 8 or 8.50, and so on. The addition of a new limitation in a claim previously stating from 2 to 7 changing it to from 3-7 or 4-6 would not introduce new matter whether those new ranges were specifically disclosed in the specification or not because of this explanation of the meaning of a disclosed broader range, such as 1-10. This meaning of a range is in keeping with the requirement in 35 USC 112 that the disclosure be concise. Also, the words decline and declining means the opposite direction of reclining and can go beyond just returning to a neutral position, e.g. declining the chair such that the chair seat slopes downward somewhat to make it easier for a person sitting in the chair to exit the chair. 
     Further, when the word “about” is used herein it is meant that the amount or condition it modifies can vary some beyond that stated so long as the advantages of the invention are realized and the concept of the invention is maintained. Practically, there is rarely the time or resources available to very precisely determine the exact limits of all the parameters of one&#39;s invention because to do so would require an effort far greater than can be justified at the time the invention is being developed to a commercial reality. The skilled artisan understands this and expects that the disclosed results of the invention might extend, at least somewhat, beyond one or more of the limits disclosed. Later, having the benefit of the inventors&#39; disclosure and understanding the inventive concept and embodiments disclosed including the best mode known to the inventor, the inventor and others can, without inventive effort, explore beyond the limits disclosed to determine if the invention is realized beyond those limits and, when embodiments are found to be without any unexpected characteristics, those embodiments are within the meaning of the term “about” as used herein. It is not difficult for the artisan or others to determine whether such an embodiment is either as expected or, because of either a break in the continuity of results or one or more features that are significantly better than reported by the inventor, is surprising and thus an unobvious teaching leading to a further advance in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view a recliner chair of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of an optional base and a partial view of a lower support for the recliner chair shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 1B  is a front view of another optional base and a partial view of a lower support for the recliner chair shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a recliner chair similar to that of  FIG. 1  showing the lower support and power units for reclining and declining a chair seat plate and for raising and lowering a leg/footrest. 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial front view of a support for the chair showing a pivot or hinged support joint used in the recliner chair invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a partial front view of a support for the chair showing a modification of the pivot, hinge joint support shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 2C  is a partial front view of a different type of pivot, hinge joint support usable in the invention. 
         FIG. 2D  is a partial side view of one component of the pivot, hinge joint in the support shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
         FIG. 2E  is a partial side view of another component of the pivot, hinge joint in the support shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
         FIG. 2  F is a vertical cross section of a side view of a modified ball joint pivot joint usable in the invention. 
         FIG. 2G  is an exploded vertical cross section of a side view of another pivot joint usable as in the invention. 
         FIG. 2H  is a side exploded side view of an upper support and lower support of another embodiment of a pivoting or tilting joint useful in the present invention. 
         FIG. 2J  is a partial plan view of the top of the lower support shown in  FIG. 2H  showing a slot in its top end. 
         FIG. 2  K is a partial side view of another embodiment of the invention having a different tilting mechanism for reclining in which the support can be in one piece. 
         FIG. 2L  is a partial front view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 2K  having the tilting mechanism for reclining. 
         FIG. 2M  is a partial side view of a portion of the support shown in  FIG. 2K , and other embodiments, showing a different attachment of the tilting mechanism. 
         FIGS. 3-3F  show various typical cross-sectional shapes of a vertical or generally vertical support useful in the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side view of a still different type of upper vertical support tilting mechanism usable in the invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a partial vertical cross section  4 A- 4 A of the mechanism shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a partial plan view of the tilting mechanism shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is a partial side view of another embodiment of a manual reclining mechanism useful in the invention. 
         FIG. 5A  is a partial rear view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  and showing more parts for manual operation. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial front view showing some optional hinged armrests and storage compartment features of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a reclining chair of the invention having an optional backrest reclining feature and a optional raising and lowering leg/foot rest. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial rear view of the chair of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 8A  is a more detailed partial rear view of the chair of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial side view of the chair of  FIG. 7  showing a still different reclining mechanism and the optional mechanisms used to move the backrest and the leg/foot rest. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Regarding the figures, it is to be understood that like components are often labeled with like or similar numerals throughout the different figures. Unless otherwise specified, the components described herein about the present invention can be formed, made, covered, etc. from any suitable material and by any suitable manufacturing method. The various parts can be formed from steel, other metals including aluminum, wood, plastics including reinforced and glass-filled nylon or other moldable, stampable, weldable, or other shapeable materials and other structural materials unless otherwise noted. Also, when a frame, pipe, rod, base and lever is mentioned, the shape or size is not critical within reasonable limits so long as the described function is met, unless specifically stated otherwise. 
     The invention is a different type of recliner chair, preferably one that is also rotatable, i.e. that swivels, and that incorporates novel features for reclining, and optionally declining and for raising and lowering an optional leg rest and/or footrest. One embodiment of the invention is shown in perspective in  FIG. 1  as a rotatable or swiveling recliner chair  2  comprising a seat  4 , a backrest  6 , an optional leg rest and/or footrest  8  connected to a conventional hinge or conventional pivot member (not shown in this figure) and one or two optional armrests  5 . The recliner chair  2  is supported by a plate or frame  10 , which in turn is connected to a rotatable support (not shown in this figure) that is supported by a base  16 , in this embodiment comprised of a cross shaped member  25  attached to a horizontal ring shaped member  31 . In this embodiment the plate or frame  10  also supports the optional armrests  5 . One or more optional compartments  29 , of various sizes and shapes, can be present below the armrests  5  and accessed by raising one side of the armrest  5  opposite a hinged side  33  (the hinge not shown in this figure). 
     The base  16  can be of many shapes and configurations as will be obvious so long as it supports a support for a frame or seat plate supporting the seat of the recliner chair. Preferably, the base is of a shape and construction that shields the floor below the base from dust, etc. thus avoiding having to move the chair to vacuum underneath frequently. One suitable base  16 A is shown in  FIG. 1A  in which a base member  37 , preferably with no openings in its top for dust, etc. to fall through, supporting or containing a support  39  for holding a solid, hollow or partially hollow lower support  18  with a conventional bearing assembly (not shown) such that the lower support  18  can rotate, swivel. Preferably the support  39  has no openings to permit dust to enter and is attached to the base member  37  in any suitable manner to hold the support  39  in a secure manner, such as with a flange and screws or bolts, so that it does not move on the base member  37 .  FIG. 1B  shows a vertical cross section of another suitable base  58  for the recliner chair  2  comprising a ring or solid circular member  59  partially or totally covered with a hemispherical section  60 . A solid member  59  adds weight to the recliner chair  2 , but also spreads the weight of an occupied recliner chair  2  better on a carpet being less likely to leave unsightly compression marks on the carpet than if a ring shaped member  59  is used. A conventional bearing assembly  61  supports the lower support  18  in a rotational or swiveling manner. The base does not have to be round, but can be of many shapes including a square, oval, rectangle, trapezoid, parallelogram and any other reasonable shape and construction as is obvious. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial side view, of a lower portion of the recliner chair  2  showing a chair support  12  and reclining mechanism assembly (described in detail later). This embodiment also has an optional leg/footrest  8  and a raising and lowering mechanism  51 . A preferably rotatable upper support  12  is attached to a chair seat frame or plate  10  with a lower retainer ring  61  and an upper retainer ring  62  attached to the upper support  12  in any suitable manner so as to secure the chair seat frame, plate  10  to the upper support  12  in a fixed manner. On the lower end portion of the upper support  12  is a part of a pivot joint, hinge, etc.  21  that can be any of a plurality of pivot or joints including those shown in  FIGS. 2A-2F . This joint  21 , e.g. see  FIG. 2B , allows the upper support  12  to move to different angles from vertical in at least two directions with respect to the lower support  18 . The lower portion of the upper support  12  is attached to an upper end portion of a lower support  18 , the upper end portion being a reciprocal part of the pivot joint  21  and held to the lower portion of the upper support  12 , in this embodiment, with a pin  20 . Connected in this manner, the upper support  12  can then pivot around the pin  20 , tilt, in a plane to cause the chair seat frame  10 , and a chair seat attached thereto, to recline and to decline. The lower support  18  is held by a conventional bearing assembly  11  mounted in the center of a base  16  thus permitting the lower support  18  and anything attached thereto, the upper support  12 , including the pivot joint  21 , anything attached to the upper support  12  including a lever  22  and the chair seat frame  10 , to rotate or swivel around the base  16  at least 360 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise. 
     The reclining, and optionally declining, mechanism assembly mentioned above comprises a support  28  attached to a lower exposed portion of the lower support  18  a collar, clamp or holder  32  and one or more pins, bolts, or the like  34 , a lever  22  attached in a fixed manner to the upper support  12 , extending outward a desired distance in generally the same plane as the support  28  and a mechanism  26  supported by the support  28  and attached to the lever  22  with a pin, etc.  30  for pulling the lever  22  downward and pushing it upward. The mechanism  26  can be a manually powered, electrically powered or fluid drive device that causes the upper support  12  to tilt, pivot around the pin  20  and to return to a vertical or generally vertical position. In this embodiment the mechanism  26  is an electrically powered linear actuator  26  that pushes a rod  63  upward and pulls it back down to cause the chair frame or plate  10  to recline and return, and optionally to decline some to make it easier for a person to exit the chair  2 . Preferably the lever  22  extends out from the upper support  12  a desired distance, preferably, but not necessarily, horizontally in the same plane that the upper support  12  pivots, tilts in. Lever  22  can extend out at any reasonable distance and angle from the upper support  12  so long as a point along the length of the lever  22 , when lifted and lowered, causes the upper support  12  to pivot or tilt around the pin  20  in the plane mentioned. The collar, etc.  32  held fixedly by one or more pins or bolts  34  that enter holes or threaded holes in the lower support  18 , or it can be welded or otherwise fixed to the lower support  18 . A horizontal, or generally horizontal structural arm  28  extends outward from the collar  32 , preferably some distance in the same plane in which the upper support  12  pivots. The movable component  63  (typically a rod) attached to the lever  22  any desired distance from the upper support  12  in any suitable manner such as with a clevis on the end of rod  63  and pin  30  in a known manner. The movable component  63  can alternatively be attached directly to the upper support  12  in a suitable manner, such as shown in  FIG. 2M , a partial side vertical cross section view of the upper support  12  in which the upper support  12  has a recess  76  for a blade extension or clevis  30  of the movable component  63  having a hole therein for a pin  78  to lock it to the upper support  12  in a manner that the clevis  78  can rotate some on the pin  78 . 
     It will be obvious to the skilled artisan that other known ways can be used for attaching a powered drive to the upper support  12  in an operable manner, and also that it is possible to orient a powered drive in an opposite manner such that a base of the powered drive attaches to the lever  22  or the upper support  12  and the movable component  63  attaches to the structural arm  28 . The electrical wiring to operate one or more motors on the various types of electrically powered actuators, whether using gas or air pressure or mechanical devices like linear actuators, rack and pinion, and similar devices, can be largely hidden in grooves in the base, in structural members and in the padding as is known. Control switches or panel(s) for operating the electrical powered actuators can be on, in or outside one or both arm rests, but in a convenient location for the person sitting in the chair to operate. 
     The vertical support for the chair seat frame  10 , in this embodiment the combination of the upper support  12  and/or the lower support  18 , either include a pivot joint of some type or, combined in a single unit is a tilting member. Other embodiments, some of which are shown in  FIGS. 2A-2H  show this and other types of pivot joints or tilting supports. While the upper support  12  is rotatable, it does not rotate with respect to the plate or frame  10 , but instead does rotate with the reclining chair  2 , the plate or frame  10  and a lower support  18 , all with respect to the base  16 . 
     The pivot or hinge joint can be any kind of pivot joint, preferably a pivot joint that can pivot along a single vertical plane, some embodiments of which are shown in  FIGS. 2A-2H . A preferred pivot joint is shown in  FIGS. 2, 2A, 2B, 2D and 2E , the pivot joint shown in  FIG. 2A  comprising an upper support  12  having a U shaped slot  13  in its lower end portion forming two ears  12 A and  12 B as the uprights of the U, each ear having a hole  21  therethrough for receiving a pin or bolt  20  and a lower support  18 , typically rotatable, having a lower portion  18 A with a flanged or bladed upper portion  15 , the flanged or bladed upper portion having a hole  21   a , preferably a smooth hole, therethrough for receiving the pin or bolt  20  as shown in  FIGS. 2A-C .  FIG. 2E  is a partial side view of either the upper support or the lower support containing the U shaped slot  13  used in the pivot joints of  FIGS. 2 and 2A . Optionally, a space between the surfaces of the flange  15  and inside surfaces of the ears  12 A and  12 B can be filled, or nearly filled, with a slippery gasket, like a Teflon® gasket, or something similar, to make the pivot action smoother and/or less noisy or silent. Also, while the pin  20  can be made of any material having the necessary strength and stability for the purpose, it can be brass or similar non-binding material for the same purpose.  FIG. 2B  shows a pivot joint that is the reverse of the pivot joint of  FIG. 2A  and that is equally suitable. Where corners of the parts are shown as square it is to be understood that such corners can be radius shaped, angled or any other shape so long as the function of the pivot joint is not destroyed. Since these parts can show below the chair seat, at least at times, they can be stainless steel, chrome plated, anodized, or painted to be more attractive and easy to dust. 
     Other pivoting joints can be used, such as that shown in  FIG. 2C  wherein the upper support  12  can have an ear  12   c  as its lower portion (can be on the opposite side of that shown instead) and the lower support  18  having an ear  18   b  as an upper portion (can be on the opposite side of that shown instead). Each ear has a hole  21  therethrough for receiving the pin or bolt  20 . Again, any space between the ears  12   c  and  18   b  can optionally contain a slippery gasket, like a Teflon® gasket, or something similar, to make the pivot action smoother and/or less noisy or silent. 
       FIGS. 2F and 2G  show other embodiments that can use conventional ball joints, but preferably use types of modified ball joints for the pivoting joint as shown in these figures. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2F and 2G , a modified ball joint comprises a cavity  41  in the lower portion of the upper support  12 , being slightly larger than the outer diameter of a flat sided ball shape  42  (see  FIG. 2G , a vertical cross section through  2   g - 2   g  of  FIG. 2F ) having a neck  43 , preferably integral with the flat sided ball shape  42  and the upper part of the lower support  18 . A bracket  73  is attached to the upper support  12 , having a hole  74  therethrough, for connection to a reclining drive as shown in other figures. While in  FIGS. 2F and 2G  the cavity  41  is in a lower portion of the upper support  12  and the flat shaped ball  42  of the ball joint is an upper portion of the of the lower support  18 , the neck  43  being between the flat shaped ball  42  and the lower support  18 , normally integrated with both, an opposite configuration, i.e. with the neck  43  and flat shaped ball  42  being on the lower end portion of the upper support  12  and the cavity  41  being in the upper portion of the lower support  18  is also usable as a pivot joint in the invention. In either embodiment a layer of a slippery material can be fixed in the ball joint as conventional and in between the flat shaped ball  42  and the cavity  41  to provide for a smoother and quieter movement of the ball  42  in the cavity  41 . Any similar ball joint, or modified ball joint having sufficient range of motion is usable in the invention, given the disclosure herein. 
     Another type of pivot joint usable in the invention is shown in  FIGS. 2H and 2J . In this type of pivot joint an upper semi-spherical or arched face  44  of a hollow or partially hollow lower support  18  is curved and a lower face  45  of the upper support  12  is concave having a similar curvature to nest the upper face  44 , optionally with a slippery material like grease or a slippery washer  72  therebetween, the lower end portion of the upper support  12  having a threaded hole  49  in its center. Preferably, the lower portion of the upper support  12  having a concave end  45  has a significantly smaller outside diameter than the outside diameter of the upper end of the lower support  18 , but this is not necessary. A slot  50  in the curved or semi-spherical face  45  provides an opening in the upper face  44  as a guide for a bolt  46 , having a threaded end portion, that extends through a tapered hole  75  in an intermediate plate  77  inside the hollow or partially hollow lower support  18  and through the slot  50  to be screwed into the threaded hole  49  in the upper support  12 . A strong spring  48  is compressed against a washer  47  and the intermediate plate  77 , the slot  50  guiding the bolt  46 , to keep the upper support  12  in place on the lower support  18  as the upper support  12  is pivoted on the lower support  18  to cause the chair to recline and decline. The diameter of the bolt  46  should be just slightly smaller than the width of the slot  50  and can be coated with Teflon® or made of brass or another slippery material to permit easy and quiet action as it moves along the slot  50  (See  FIG. 2J ). Also, as before, a layer of a slippery material can be fixed between the semi-spherical surface  44  and the concave surface  45  to provide for a smoother and quieter movement of the semi-spherical surface  44  in the concave surface  45 . As with other pivot joints, this type of pivot joint can be reversed by having the curved surface  44  and slot  50  on the end of the lower support  18  and the intermediate plate  77  and bolt  46  in a hollow or partially hollow upper support  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  again, an extension or support  35  is attached to, or part of support  28  and collar, etc.  32 , preferably in the same plane as support  28 , supports an optional second mechanism  68 , in this embodiment another electrically powered linear actuator  36  that extends and withdraws a rod  71  attached, with an extension  38  having a hole therethrough, to a bracket  70  with a pin  40  such that the rod, as it extends from or withdraws into the actuator  36  can raise or lower a plate  8   a  attached with a hinge  9  to the chair frame or plate  10  and covered with a padded leg/foot rest  8 , the linear actuator  36  controlled by the user in the same manner as the linear actuator  26 . 
     While not shown here, the backrest  6  of the chair  2  can optionally also rotate at its lower end to recline independently of the chair seat  4  as will be shown later. 
     Another reclining mechanism suitable for a recliner that does not rotate or swivel but nevertheless tilts the support for the chair is shown in  FIGS. 2K and 2L . As seen in  FIG. 2K , a side view of the reclining/declining mechanism, this embodiment comprises a chair seat plate or frame  10 , a different embodiment of a support  79  for the chair plate or frame  10 , a support  79  whose longitudinal axis is vertical or generally vertical, but a support able to be tilted from up to about 55 degrees from vertical for reclining, tilted back to vertical and then, when desired, on up to about 10 degrees from vertical in the other direction for declining the chair seat for exit from the chair. This mechanism tilts by having a ball joint or modified type of ball joint  81  (see  FIGS. 2F, 2G and 2M ) on the lower end portion of the generally vertical support  79 , i.e. a neck  87  joined to a ball or flat ball shaped member  88  in a cavity  89  mounted in a top center of a base  80 , this joint  81  allowing the generally vertical support  79  to tilt in the range given above. An optional slippery layer of material like Teflon®, graphite or the like can fill space  88  to render the sliding of the ball, etc.  89  for tilting smooth and quiet. A frame  83  is comprised of two arched members  84   a  and  84   b  parallel to one another, each arched member  84   a  and  84   b  on either side of, and spaced from, the generally vertical support  79  (see  FIG. 2L , a partial front view of the mechanism of  FIG. 2K ), is attached to a base  80  at their ends  86 . Also a part of the frame  83 , a frame extension  28 , preferably horizontal, provides support for a tilt causing drive  85  comprised in this embodiment of a electrically powered linear actuator  26  that extends and withdraws a rod that is also attached to the generally vertical support  79 , preferably with a bracket  92  and a pin as previously shown. The tilting drive  85  can be any manual, electrical or fluid drive having the power range of movement required for the range of tilt described above. Other types of drives capable of the same or similar movement and force in both directions would also be suitable. 
       FIG. 2L , a partial rear view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2K , shows the base  80 , the generally vertical support  79  with the bracket  92  attached to the chair seat frame or plate  10  (the tilt causing drive  85  is not shown in this figure), the curved frame members Ma and Mb with optional stabilizing supports  93   a  and  93   b  and a cross member  94  attached to the chair support  79  and running across between  93   a  and  93   b  with clearance between its ends and the curved frame members  84   a  and Mb (not shown in  FIG. 2K ). These curved frame members  84   a  and  84   b  provide guide surfaces for the wheels  95   a  and  95   b , turning on axles  96   a  and  96   b  respectively, to maintain the support  79  in the same or generally the same plane as it is tilted from the vertical. 
       FIG. 2M  shows just one of several alternative ways to connect a push/pull member  63  to a chair support  79  or upper chair support  12  and  158 . Here a recess  76  is machined or formed in the upper chair support  12  to narrow the recessed portion such that after a hole  78  is drilled, formed in the narrow recess, a clevis  30  can be attached with a pin (not shown) in a known manner. The cross sectional shape of the upper chair support  12  and  158  and/or an upper portion and/or all of the lower support  18  and  157  and support  79  can be of most any shape so long as the working ends (the upper portion of the upper support and the lower portion of the lower support) of the upper support  12  and lower support  18  and/or the pivot, hinge joints function as shown and/or described herein. Some of the more typical shapes are shown in  FIGS. 3-3  F.  FIG. 3  shows a round cross section,  FIG. 3A  shows an oval cross section,  FIG. 3B  shows a triangular cross section,  FIG. 3C  shows a rectangular cross section,  FIG. 3D  shows a square cross section,  FIG. 3E  shows a cross as a cross section and  FIG. 3F  shows an hour-glass shape as a cross section. The working ends of the supports having these cross sections, preferably except for a round cross section for the lower working end of the lower support, can be shaped differently, or have, an added end portion, to form the types of pivot joints shown in  FIGS. 2-2K  and doing so is within the ordinary skill of the art. While not necessary, it is preferable that the lower support  18  be able to rotate or swivel with respect to the base. 
     Another mechanism for tilting the seat frame/plate support to recline or decline the chair is shown in a partial side view in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment the upper support  12 , fastened in a non-rotating manner at the top end to the seat or seat frame  10  and at its bottom end in a non-rotating manner to a platform  97  of a tilting mechanism  98  which in turn is supported by a rotating lower support  18  mounted in a rotatable manner in a conventional hub  16   a  mounted on the base  16 . Preferably, the entire assembly from the seat or seat frame or plate  10  to the lower support  18  can be rotated or swiveled with respect to the base  16 , but it need not be to be within the broadest scope of the invention. The tilting mechanism  98  comprises a curved, T shaped member  99  fastened to the top end of the lower support  18  by any suitable manner such as welding at the joint  100  or by pins or bolts as shown in  FIG. 4A . The tilting mechanism  98  further comprises a set of 4 support wheels  102  and a set of 4 keeper wheels  104 . The set of four support wheels  102 , two wheels being spaced apart along the upper surface of each opposite side, and spaced apart sufficiently, on each side of the upper support  12  and the platform  97  on which it is mounted, to be able to turn without rubbing on the platform  97  or the upper support  12 . The four support wheels  102  are typically parallel to each other, preferably two each in two separate vertical planes. All four of the support wheels  102  ride on the upper surface  101  of the curved T shaped member  99  as the wheels  102  turn to move the platform  97  to tilt the upper support  12  as they are moved back and forth on surface  101  by a linear drive  103  mounted to a rear portion of the curved T shaped member  99  and moves a push/pull member  112 . Axles  105  running perpendicular to and above the upper surface  101  of the curved T shaped member join each pair of support wheels  102  in a known manner to allow the support wheels  102  to turn freely and to keep these wheels spaced apart properly to maintain their contacting surfaces remaining in the appropriate track on the upper surface  101 . Side members  107 , supported by axles  105  and spanning between them support the platform  97 . A front end of the curved T shaped member  99  can have an optional safety stop  109 , preferably on the upper surface  101 , or it can be elsewhere on the curved T shaped member  99  to stop leading support wheels  102  or leading keeper wheels  104  from running off of the end of the curved T shaped member if something breaks. 
     Four keeper wheels  104 , two sets of two spaced apart wheels  104 , each keeper wheel  104  supported by an axle  113  and in contact with a lower surface  106  of the top part  108  of the T shaped member  99 , each different pair of keeper wheels  104  being on an opposite side of the lower vertical member  99  of the curved T shaped member  99 , being spaced sufficiently, on each side of the vertical member  108  to be able to turn without rubbing on the vertical surfaces of  99  (see  FIG. 4A ). The four keeper wheels  104  are typically parallel to each other, preferably two each in two separate vertical planes. All four of the keeper wheels  104  are kept in place to ride on the lower surface  106  of the top portion of the curved T shaped member  99  by two keeper wheel supports  111  that join the top axles  105  to the lower axles  113 , there being two of each of the axles  105 ,  113 . As the wheels  102  turn to move the platform  97  back and forth along the curved T shaped member  99 , the keeper wheels  104  also turn to keep the support wheels  102  in their proper place on the upper surface  101 . Pair of two of the axles  113  on opposite sides of the vertical portion of the curved T shaped member  99  can be connected with a curved member  114  extending at such an angle from horizontal ( FIG. 4 ) that the curved members  114  do not interfere with the lower chair support  18  to undesirably limit the amount of tilting. Such an arrangement will contain each pair of keeper wheels  104  in a known manner to allow the keeper wheels  104  to turn freely and to keep these wheels spaced apart properly to maintain their contacting surfaces remaining in the appropriate track on the lower surface  106 . Optionally, one or more stabilizing members  114  can connect to an appropriate place on each one or both axles  113  and the keeper wheel support  111 . 
     The drive  103 , a part of the tilting mechanism  98 , can be any of many types of drives, but preferably is a linear actuator drive either manually powered or driven by electricity or with a pressurized fluid. The drive  103  is preferably mounted on the rear end or end portion of the curved T shaped member  99  and has a push/pull member that is connected to the platform  97  indirectly via a rod  115  using a type of clevis  112  that spans the side members  107  and/or the keeper wheel supports  111  by any suitable means. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a rod  115  spans between two side members  107 , each being, in this embodiment, in contact with, or a part of, the keeper wheel support  111  closest to the drive  103 . A push/pull extension  112  on the end of the moving push/pull part  116  of the drive  103  is attached in a known way to the rod  115  such that the clevis  112  can rotate around the rod  115  as necessary when the platform  97  is moved. 
     As the moving part  116  of the drive  103  is retracted it pulls the platform  97  along the upper surface  101  towards the rear of the T shaped member  99  tilting the upper support  12  in a way that causes the seat or seat frame  10  to recline and as the reverse motion is caused by reversing the drive  103  direction extending the moving part  116 , it causes the upper support  12  to return to a normal sitting position and if continued causes the upper support  12  to tilt in the opposite direction causing the seat or seat frame  10  to decline for exiting the chair. The rear end of the drive  103  is positioned such that it clears a top of the base  16  or the floor by a practical distance. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  the rear end of the drive  103  has a slightly larger radius from the center of the base than the radius of the base  16 , but this would not usually be necessary. Where it might appear to be, for best stability it would be better if the radius of the base  16  was almost, at least as great or greater than the above described radius of the rear end of the drive  103 , or the base can be oval or generally oval, square, rectangular, or have 5 or more sides. The reclining mechanism  98  of  FIGS. 4-4   b  will rotate with the lower support  18  and parts above. 
     It will be obvious to a skilled artisan, given the disclosure above, that the concept for tilting the upper support  12  to decline and/or to recline the chair seat shown in  FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B  can be executed in other embodiments that are modifications of the embodiment illustrated. For example, one or more of the wheels can be replaced with skids, such as slippery skids, the curved T shaped member  99  can be replaced with different types of a box channel or one or more C shaped members, the shape of the curved member can be concave instead of convex as in  FIG. 4 , and many other configurations and assemblies while still keeping with the tilting mechanism concept shown here. 
     Any number of mechanisms can be used as the reclining/declining drive mechanisms  26  and also for the optional mechanism  36  to raise and lower the optional footrest/leg rest  8 , and for any other similar mechanisms. Linear actuators, either powered electrically or manually powered can be used, some examples being those offered by Firgelli Technologies, Inc. of Victoria, BC, Canada, Northern Tool+Equipment of Arnold or St. Peters, Mo., their Wel-Bilt Linear Actuators, and other similar linear actuators, manual types such as simple scissor jacks laid on their side with manual crank, rod and 90 degree turn or universal joint mechanism. Also suitable are rack and pinion drives, either motor powered or manual powered, the latter including the type used on a Swisstek®&#39;s Hercules tripod, those offered as manual winches by the Haacon Group of D-97896 Freudenberg, Germany, and motor powered rack and pinion drives like those of Atlanta Drive Systems Inc. of 74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, and equivalent systems. Also, motor powered fluid, preferably air, cylinders can be used like the NCY2 or 3 available from SMC Corporation of America located in Noblesville, Ind. Further, gas cylinders like those used on automobile hoods, rear lift doors and office chairs, like those offered by Office Replacement Parts.com of Kew Gardens, N.Y., can be used either with or without a spring assist, preferably coil spring assisted with the coil spring surrounding the gas cylinder, but many types of springs can be used as an assist as will be obvious to those of ordinary skill given the disclosure herein. 
     Other types of manual powered with spring and/or one or more gas cylinders as assistance, or alone, can be used to decline and/or recline the chair. For example,  FIG. 5  is a partial side view of a reclining and declining chair showing the manual mechanism and parts that cause it to decline and/or recline using a manually powered mechanism, but instead a plurality of parts that are biased to decline with reclining being caused by moving the force point on a modified U shaped spring, or optionally by shifting ones weight to the back of the chair seat and backrest. The embodiment of  FIG. 5  can be like the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2  except here the optional leg rest and raising/lowering mechanism is not shown and the linear actuator  26  is replaced by a manually operated rack and pinion mechanism  118  comprising an optional leaf type or semi-U or L shaped spring  120  having a mounting bracket  121  bolted to a preferably rotatable lower vertical support  18  with bolts  122 . A lower portion  82  of the base  16  is preferably a ring in plan view. The spring  120  can be a single leaf or two or more leaves arranged in a known manner to affect more or less resistance to bending to equip the mechanism for heavier duty if desired. One surface of the spring  120 , any of the surfaces will do, contains a rack  124  portion of a rack and pinion mechanism, with a conventional pinion gear assembly  126  mounted on the spring  120  and rack  124 . While this pinion can be powered by a motor, in this embodiment it is manually powered with a rod  127  extending from the pinion  126  a sufficient distance for mounting a wheel  128  (see  FIG. 5A , a partial rear view showing the manual members of the pinion  126 ), such as what is known as a spinner wheel located in a convenient location for a person sitting in the chair to reach down and rotate the wheel  128 . An arm  123  connects a pinion bracket  125  to a bracket  92  attached to the upper support  12  as described earlier. The location of the bracket  92  on the upper support  12  and the bracket  125  on the pinion  126 , and the length of the connecting arm  123  can be changed to provide the desired leverage and ease of operation. 
     The location of the pinion  126  on the rack  124  and the optional spring  120  shown in  FIG. 5  is in a neutral or normal sitting position. When a person sits down in the chair (not shown) and leans back, the upper support  12  can, if desired, pivot backward until the seat support plate  10  is about horizontal due to a slight bending of the optional spring  120 , or the person can turn the wheel  128  in the appropriate direction to cause the seat support plate  10  to return to a normal sitting position from a declined position. By continuing to turn the wheel  128  in the same direction, the pinion  126  moves toward an end  129  of the spring  120  causing the pivot joint  21  to continue to pivot causing a reclining of the seat support plate  10  and the chair (not shown). Additional degrees of recline is optionally obtained with a bending down of the optional spring  120 . Turning the wheel  128  counterclockwise or counterclockwise results in moving the pinion mechanism along the rack  124  as shown by  130  to reach the desired degree of reclined, neutral and declined positions. To return to a normal sitting position, or to a declined position, the person sitting in the chair turns the wheel in an opposite direction and finally leans forward to exit and or further decline the chair seat. 
     As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art, many modifications to the structure of the reclining/declining mechanism  118  can be made while still falling within the scope of this invention, i.e. any mechanism that causes the upper support  12  or an upper support  79  to tilt torecline or decline the chair  2 . For example, instead of using a rack and pinion drive, with or without a spring of some type, to cause such tilting, the arm  123  could be connected to a gas cylinder of appropriate resistance, with or without a coil spring booster, to replace the mechanism  118 , along with many other arrangements. 
       FIG. 6  shows a front view of an optional type of armrest with an optional storage feature usable on any of the embodiments of the invention. In this embodiment the optional feature comprises an armrest support  131  attached to a mount  18   a  attached on the lower vertical support  18  so that the armrest support rotates as the lower vertical support  18  and the mount  18   a  rotates. Optional additional supports  18   b  for the armrest supports  131  can be provided attached to the mount  18   a  and to each support  131 , both above and below each armrest support  131  if desired, to provide additional support. Each armrest support  131  has a generally horizontal portion  131   a  and a vertical portion  131   b . An upper end of each vertical portion  131   b  acts as a rest or support for a lifting end  132  of armrest  133 . A further optional feature is one or two storage compartments  135 , supported by the arm rests support  131 ,  131   a  and each storage compartment  135  having an outer side  136 , an optional front panel  134  and an optional back panel (not shown). The arm rest  133 , in this embodiment, is hinged on the outside with hinge  137  to permit the arm rests  133  to be pivoted upward away from the person sitting in the chair to gain access to the storage compartment  135 . Of course, the arm rests  133  are usually padded and upholstered in various ways and the storage compartments decorated as desired With this optional feature the arm rests rotate with the chair, but do not recline or decline, remaining in a generally horizontal position. But, they can be reclined and declined with the chair by attaching the armrest support  131  to the chair seat frame or plate  10 , or to the upper portion of the upper vertical support  12  if desired. The optional storage compartment(s)  135  can contain a pivoting tray like used on passenger planes, particularly in first class, newspapers, magazines, laptop, tablet, books and other things that one sitting in the chair might desire to have handy. The armrest(s)  133  and/or the outer side(s)  136  of the compartment(s)  135  can also support cup holders, a control panel for the linear activators on the chair, holder(s) for remote controls for the linear activators on the chair, for entertainment components, pens and pencils and other useful items. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a rotating and reclining chair  140 , optionally also declining, according to the invention, comprising a backrest  142 , preferably a reclining backrest as shown in  142   a , a seat  143 , an optional leg and/or foot rest  144  supported in its top portion with axle like supports  152  and  154   
     ( FIG. 8 a   )) so the leg and/or foot rest  144  can be raised and lowered to various desired positions, a generally vertical support  156  housing a rotatable, pivoting, generally vertical, support  157 , 158  (see  FIG. 8 ) for a chair seat frame or plate (not shown) that allows the chair  140  to rotate generally horizontally in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and a round, oval or racetrack shaped base  149  supporting the vertical support  156 . The armrests  146 , 147  on the chair  140  can be of any type, but preferably are like or similar to the armrest  133  with compartments  135  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a partial rear view of the reclining, rotating chair  140  shown in  FIG. 7  showing a lower portion  150  of the back of the backrest  142 , supported at or near its lower end with one or two axle portions  152 , 154  that are attached to a backrest plate (covered by the upholstery) and on the ends of the axle(s)  152 , ( 154 ) by sockets (not shown) mounted in lower side portions of the armrest supports or sides of the armrest compartments  146 ,  147  allowing the backrest  142  to recline and decline as shown by the dashed lines at  142   a . The backrest plate is not shown in this  FIG. 8  because it is covered with an optional covering of cloth, leather, vinyl or other upholstery material. Mounted to the backrest plate is a linking member  162 , preferably having a hole therethrough, for connecting a clevis  164 , or any suitable connecting means, with a pin  165  (see  FIG. 8A ), or some other known linking device. Mechanisms for reclining and declining the chair seat  143 , the backrest  142  and the leg/footrest  144  are not shown in this figure for simplicity, but are shown in  FIGS. 8A and 9 . The round or oval base  149  supports a housing containing bearings (not shown) to hole a lower vertical or generally vertical shaft  157 , having a cut out  157   a  on its upper end to receive an extension piece  159  of an upper support shaft  158  attached at its top end to either an optional plate  161  attached the seat frame or plate (see  155  in  FIG. 9 ) of the chair  140 , or the top end of the upper support shaft  158  can be attached directly to the seat frame or plate  155  without using the optional plate  161 . The housing  156  supports the shaft  157  in a manner that the shaft  157  can freely rotate clockwise and counter clockwise in a known manner. The upper part of the lower shaft  157  and the extension piece  159  of the upper support shaft have aligning holes therethrough for a pin or bolt  160  permitting the upper support shaft  158  to pivot to recline/decline the chair  140  according to the invention (see  FIG. 9 ). 
       FIG. 8A  is a partial rear view of the chair  140  showing an optional mechanism for reclining and declining, and/or returning, the backrest  142  of the chair  140 . The word declining means the opposite direction of reclining and can go beyond just returning to a neutral position, e.g. declining the chair to a down sloping angle to make it easier for a person sitting in the chair to exit the chair. A frame or plate (not shown) supporting the chair backrest  142  includes in this embodiment a bracket or connector  162  protruding out the back of the covering to connect to a clevis  164  or other connecting means with a pin or bolt  165  attached to a rod extension  170 . The bracket or connector  162  can be of various lengths including shorter than shown, or can be eliminated by attaching the clevis  165 , etc. directly to a recess in the backrest support plate or frame in a known manner. An extension rod  170  is connected by any suitable manner to a push/pull rod  172  of a linear actuator  174  and electrical drive  180 , or any suitable manual or driven push/pull mechanism. The linear actuator  174  is supported by spaced apart supports  178 , 179 , supported by a plate  176  fixedly resting on the spaced apart curved supports  168 , 169 , in a pivoting manner with an axle, rod, bolt or pin  177 , attached to spaced apart curved supports  168 , 169  (shown in  FIG. 9  and described below). This backrest reclining/declining mechanism just described can be manipulated by a person in the chair, or out, to cause the backrest  142  to pivot around its lower supports  152 , 154  to a desired angle. This reclining/declining mechanism just described can be used on a rotating, or non-rotating chair, but here is shown on a rotating chair with a rotating vertical or near vertical support  157  ( FIG. 9 ) rotationally supported in a holder  156  mounted in or on a base  149 . 
       FIG. 9  is a partial side view of the chair  140  of  FIGS. 7-8A  with the armrests and optional compartments below the armrests not shown. Several of the items described above in description of  FIG. 8A  will not be repeated here as they are readily understandable from above. The spaced apart curved supports  168 , 169  are attached to the lower portion  157  of the rotatable vertical or near vertical chair seat support, including the pivoting or hinging upper support portion  158 , with pins, bolts  187  or with any suitable method of attachment in a known manner. The lower, back portion of the spaced apart curved supports  168 , 169 , support the plate  176  in a fixed manner which in turn supports the spaced apart linear actuator  174  spaced apart supports  178 , 179 . Closer to the rotating vertical or near vertical support  157  is mounted a plate  185  mounted to the spaced apart curved supports  168 , 169  using a pin, bolt, rod, etc.  187  such that it can rotate around the pin, etc.  187 . The plate  185  supports a drive mechanism  184  that includes a movable push/pull rod  183  attached to a clevis  180  in turn attached to a lever (not shown) with a pin, bolt, rod, etc.  182 , the lever attached to the pivoting or hinged upper support  158  connected to the lower portion of the vertical or near vertical support  158  with a pin, rod, bolt, etc.  160  permitting the upper support  158  to pivot or hinge to recline or decline the chair seat  143  support plate or frame  155 . Optionally, but preferably, a front part of the curved supports  168 , 169  have integral, or attached at  189 , another set of spaced apart supports  190 , a lower portion of the spaced apart supports  190  supporting in a pivoting manner another drive mechanism, in this embodiment a linear actuator  192  having a push/pull rod  193  and optionally with a rod extension, the latter in this embodiment connected to a bracket  194  with a pin, bolt, rod, etc.  195 . The bracket  194  is attached to the backside of a leg/foot rest  144  support plate or frame that is in turn attached in a pivoting or hinged manner with one plate of a two plate hinge  185 , having a pin  133  connecting the two plates, the other plate attached to the chair seat plate or frame  155 . This optional portion allows a person sitting in the chair to raise or lower the optional leg/foot rest  144  as shown at  197  to any desired angle for comfort and relaxation. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the reclining/declining, raising/lowering, etc. mechanisms for the backrest  142 , chair seat  143  and leg/foot rest  144 , and their various supports, all rotate with the rotation of the vertical support portion  157 , but that is optional. It would be obvious to mount the spaced apart curved supports  168 , 169  to the holder  156 , or to the base  149   a  in a manner such as shown in  FIGS. 2K and 2L , or in any other manner made obvious by the disclosure herein. In this embodiment, the base  149   a  in plan view is oval with its longer axis being in the orientation that the chair seat  143  would likely be in most of the time it is in use, but other shape bases would also be suitable. 
     Different embodiments employing the concept and teachings of the invention will be apparent and obvious to those of ordinary skill in this art and these embodiments are likewise intended to be within the scope of the claims. As just one example, the curved supports  99 ,  106 ,  168 , 169  could be replaced with straight supports like shown in  FIG. 2  or different straight or curved supports. Also, as another optional accessory for all the chairs, if desired a skirt, preferably circular, can be added below the chair seat or chair seat frame or plate and connected thereto and ending at or just above the base to hide the mechanisms and supports beneath the chair seat, etc. The inventor does not intend to abandon any disclosed inventions that are reasonably disclosed but do not appear to be literally claimed below, but rather intends those embodiments to be included in the broad claims either literally or as equivalents to the embodiments that are literally included.