Reclinable chair

A chair comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a seat portion which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion, forward of the transverse fold, the seat portion being supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion;
• a reclinable back portion;
• and
• a recline mechanism with which the back portion is connected for reclining action of the back portion, the recline mechanism being operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the rearward portion is moved to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame, with a consequent folding of the seat portion about the transverse fold under the weight of the occupant, the recline mechanism comprising a four bar linkage comprising:
• a main support forming part of the supporting frame;
• a second linkage comprising the seat portion or a guide relative to which the seat portion is selectively movable;
• a front support linkage extending between the main support and the second linkage;
• and
• a drive linkage wherein the drive linkage is pivotable about a drive axis through the main support, the drive linkage being connected to the guide and being operably linked to be driven about the drive axis by rearward recline action of the back portion to bring about the net increase in height of the second linkage on rearward recline action of the back.

A chair comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a seat portion which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion, forward of the transverse fold, the seat portion being supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion, the seat portion being adjustable in position between a forward extended position and a rearward retracted position such that the positioning of the transverse fold is variable as a function of the seat depth position;
• a reclinable back portion;
• and
• a recline mechanism with which the back portion is connected for reclining action of the back portion, the recline mechanism being operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the rearward portion is moved to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame, with a consequent folding of the seat portion about the transverse fold under the weight of the occupant.

A chair comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a seat portion which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion forward of the transverse fold, the seat portion being supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion;
• a reclinable back portion;
• and
• a recline mechanism with which the back portion is connected for reclining action of the back portion, the recline mechanism being operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the rearward portion is moved to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame, the seat portion also being configured so that a consequent downward folding of the forward portion about the transverse fold is caused by weight of an occupant's legs when the occupant is seated on the seat portion,
• wherein the recline mechanism is operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the entire seat portion is moved in a horizontal direction relative to the supporting frame.

A chair comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a seat portion which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion forward of the transverse fold, the seat portion being supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion;
• a reclinable back portion;
• and
• a recline mechanism with which the back portion is connected for reclining action of the back portion, the recline mechanism being operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the rearward portion is moved to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame, the seat portion also being configured so that a consequent downward folding of the forward portion about the transverse fold is caused by weight of an occupant's legs when the occupant is seated on the seat portion,
• wherein the seat portion comprises opposing side portions and a central portion disposed therebetween, the seat portion being supported by the recline mechanism at the opposing side portions so that the central portion of the seat portion is freely suspended and unsupported.

A chair comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a seat portion which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion forward of the transverse fold, the seat portion being supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion;
• a reclinable back portion;
• and
• a recline mechanism with which the back portion is connected for reclining action of the back portion, the recline mechanism being operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the rearward portion is moved to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame, the seat portion also being configured so that a consequent downward folding of the forward portion about the transverse fold is caused by weight of an occupant's legs when the occupant is seated on the seat portion,
• wherein the recline mechanism comprises:
• a pair of rails operably connected to the seat portion;
• and
• a pair of links, each link extending from a corresponding rail to the supporting frame, each link being rotatably mounted to the supporting frame and rotatably mounted to the corresponding link such that when the back portion is reclined, the pair of links facilitates movement of the entire seat portion in a horizontal direction relative to the supporting frame.

A chair comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a seat portion which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion forward of the transverse fold, the seat portion being supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion;
• a reclinable back portion;
• and
• a recline mechanism with which the back portion is connected for reclining action of the back portion, the recline mechanism being operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the rearward portion is moved to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame, the seat portion also being configured so that a consequent downward folding of the forward portion about the transverse fold is caused by weight of an occupant's legs when the occupant is seated on the seat portion,
• wherein the seat portion comprises a transition zone having a plurality of transverse fold positions about which the front portion of the seat portion can downwardly fold under the weight of an occupant's legs when the occupant is seated on the seat portion during a reclining action of the back portion.

A chair comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a seat portion which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion forward of the transverse fold, the seat portion being supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion;
• a reclinable back portion;
• and
• a recline mechanism with which the back portion is connected for reclining action of the back portion, the recline mechanism being operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the rearward portion is moved to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame, the seat portion also being configured so that a consequent downward folding of the forward portion about the transverse fold is caused by weight of an occupant's legs when the occupant is seated on the seat portion,
• wherein the rearward portion of the seat portion is operatively supported by a seat depth adjustment mechanism such that the seat portion is adjustable relative to the supporting frame between a forward extended position and a rearward retracted position.

A chair comprising:

• a supporting frame;
• a seat portion which is foldable about a transverse fold to define a rearward portion behind the transverse fold and a forward portion forward of the transverse fold, the seat portion being supported above the supporting frame by its rearward portion;
• a reclinable back portion;
• and
• a recline mechanism with which the back portion is connected for reclining action of the back portion, the recline mechanism being operably linked to the rearward portion of the seat portion such that on reclining action of the back portion, the rearward portion is moved to obtain a net increase in height above the supporting frame, the seat portion also being configured so that a consequent downward folding of the forward portion about the transverse fold is caused by weight of an occupant's legs when the occupant is seated on the seat portion,
• wherein the recline mechanism comprises a plurality of supports that support the seat portion from the supporting frame such that on reclining action of the back portion, movement of the seat portion relative to the supporting frame occurs, wherein said movement of said seat portion comprises a horizontal component of movement and further comprises a vertical component of movement, wherein the vertical component of movement comprises said net increase in height of the rearward portion of the seat portion above the supporting frame.