Patent ID: 7837265

Claim:
A reclining chair comprising: a chair back comprising a back support element and a pivot member; a seat; a base having a central column with a central axis that is substantially vertical; and a control mechanism mounted on the base, the control mechanism coupling the chair back to the seat, the control mechanism configured as a four-bar mechanism including a ground member and the pivot member pivotally coupled to the ground member at a pivot point forward of the central axis, the pivot member pivotally attached to the back support element at a back pivot, such that a reclining force applied by the user to the chair back results in the chair back moving rearward and the seat lifting, pivoting the pivot member relative to the ground member about the pivot point and the back support element about the back pivot, wherein the seat functions as a coupler connected to the pivot member within the four-bar mechanism and wherein the control mechanism further comprises a follower connected to the seat and to the ground member, such that pivoting movement of the pivot member results in movement of the seat relative to the ground member, and wherein the seat comprises a seat assembly including a seat plate and a seat cushion moveably mounted to the seat plate, the seat plate coupled to the pivot member and the ground member.