Patent ID: 8882190

Claim:
A chair comprising: a support structure; a seat portion, mounted on the support structure and defining an approximately horizontal plane; a reclinable backrest mounted on the support structure, movable between an approximately vertical position and a reclined position; a footrest adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the footrest and the backrest define fore and aft directions relative to the seat; a gas cylinder having (i) a first end coupled to a component of the chair distinct from the footrest, (ii) a second end coupled to the footrest and (iii) a valve, the first and second ends of the gas cylinder having an adjustable spacing therebetween when the valve is open and a substantially fixed spacing therebetween when the valve is closed, wherein the gas cylinder is configured in relation to the footrest and the support structure to enable locking of the footrest in a desired position between, and including, the retracted position and the extended position; and an actuator, movably coupled to the support structure, and also coupled to the valve, the actuator having a first position wherein the valve is closed, a second position wherein (i) the valve is open and (ii) the actuator engages a member, coupled to the footrest, that is configured to urge the footrest toward the extended position when the footrest is in the retracted position; and wherein the actuator is spring-biased to the first position; so that moving the actuator to the second position urges the footrest toward the extended position and releasing the actuator when the footrest reaches the desired position causes locking of the footrest in that position.