Patent ID: 8297701

Claim:
A reclining chair comprising: a seat configured to support a user; a chair back; a base; and a control mechanism mounted on the base, the control mechanism coupling the chair back to the seat with the chair back located generally adjacent to the user's back when the user is seated upon the seat, wherein the control mechanism comprises: a first resilient member including a block of resilient material placed under a load when a reclining force is applied to the chair back, the first resilient member configured to resist the reclining force as the first resilient member is compressed; a downwardly protruding element having an end positioned over the first resilient member and configured to engage with the first resilient member when a reclining force is applied to the chair back such that the first resilient member deforms around the end of the protruding element as the first resilient member is compressed; a resistance adjustment mechanism for varying resistance of the first resilient member, wherein a weight of the user biases the chair back toward an upright position absent the reclining force, wherein easy operation of the resistance adjustment mechanism is facilitated with the chair in the upright position, and wherein the resistance adjustment mechanism further comprises a stop engaged when the user is seated in the upright position, the stop generally minimizing placement of the load on the first resilient member so as to facilitate easy operation of the resistance adjustment mechanism; and a second resilient member configured to return the chair back to the upright position upon removal of the reclining force.