Recliner

A recliner is a soft chair.

You can lean the back down. The front part lifts up too. This helps you rest your legs.

Some chairs have a lever on the side. You pull it to move the chair. Other chairs move on their own.

Many chairs help you feel cozy. Some have heat or a massage. You can even sleep in them.

You can find these chairs in homes. They are also on planes and trains. They are great for resting.

A recliner is a special kind of chair.

You can lean the back down. The front part lifts up too. This helps you rest your legs. Some chairs have a lever on the side. You pull it to move the chair. Other chairs move on their own.

Many recliners help you feel cozy. Some have heat or a massage. You can even sleep in them. You can find these chairs in homes. They are also on planes and trains. Some models can even help people in wheelchairs.

In the late 1800s, people made motion chairs from wood. In 1928, a patent led to a company called La-Z-Boy. Later, a man named Daniel Caldemeyer made a new design. He used science to make his chairs. NASA used his chairs for missions like Apollo. These chairs were even used by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. One of those chairs is in a museum now. He used the chair to rest after surgery. It had the Presidential Seal on it.

A recliner is a very cozy armchair or sofa.

It is built to help you rest. You can lower the back of the chair. At the same time, the front part of the chair rises up. This creates a perfect spot to lounge. Some people call them loungers or reclining chairs. These chairs are great for relaxing at home. You can also find them on trains and airplanes.

Many recliners have parts that move to fit you. Some use a lever on the side to lift the footrest. Other chairs move the footrest automatically when you lean back. Modern versions have even more special features. They might have a headrest you can adjust. They may also have support for your lower back. Some models even offer heat or a massage. You can even find chairs that vibrate. Some recliners are even made for people in wheelchairs.

The history of these chairs started a long time ago. In 1850, people in France made a special camp bed. It could work as a chair or a bed. It had a steel frame and soft arm rests. In the late 1800s, people made motion chairs from wood. These wood chairs had padded seats. Some even had a place to hold a book. Even Napoleon III reportedly owned a reclining chair.

Newer designs came from clever inventors in America. Two cousins named Knabush and Shoemaker got a patent in 1928. Their work helped start the La-Z-Boy company. Later, Daniel F. Caldemeyer made a very famous design. He worked for National Furniture Mfg. Co. in Evansville, Indiana. He used the science of kinetics to build his chairs. He even added footrests and heated seats. He held over 300 patents for his ideas.

Caldemeyer's chairs were used for very important work. NASA used his designs for the Mercury and Gemini missions. They also used them for the Apollo missions. These chairs were in the ready rooms for those astronauts. The Secret Service even gave 50 chairs to President Lyndon Baines Johnson. He used one to rest after he had surgery. One of these special chairs is in the Smithsonian Institution now.

A recliner is a specialized type of armchair or sofa designed for relaxation.

The chair allows an occupant to recline by lowering the backrest. At the same time, the front of the chair rises. This movement creates a comfortable position for lounging or resting. People also call these pieces of furniture loungers or reclining chairs. They are widely used in homes, airplanes, and trains. Some models can even reach a near supine position. This means they can be used almost like a bed for sleeping.

The mechanism of a recliner involves several moving parts working together. Most designs feature a backrest that tilts backward. They also include a footrest to support the legs. A user might extend this footrest using a lever on the side. In other models, the footrest extends automatically when the back reclines. Modern recliners often include advanced ergonomic features to increase comfort. These include adjustable headrests and lumbar support for the lower back. Some even feature independent footstools that adjust to the user's weight and leg angle.

There are many different types and features found in modern recliners. Some models are designed for accessibility to help people in wheelchairs. Other versions focus on luxury and sensory experiences. These can include built-in heat, massage, or vibration functions. Some designers even created the first entertainment center within a chair. These features allow the recliner to serve many different purposes. It can be a place for reading, watching media, or sleeping. This versatility makes them multifunctional pieces of furniture.

The history of reclining furniture dates back to the mid-19th century. Around 1850, French designers introduced a reclining camp bed. This portable item featured a steel frame and padded armrests. It could serve as a chair, a bed, or a chaise longue. By the late 1800s, makers created wooden motion chairs with padded seats. Some designs from France and America even included holders for books or documents. Historical records suggest that Napoleon III was an owner of a reclining chair. The word "recline" itself comes from the Latin word "reclinare." This term combines "re," meaning back, with "clinare," meaning to bend.

American inventors played a major role in the development of the modern recliner. In 1928, two cousins named Knabush and Shoemaker received a patent for a wooden recliner. This design was similar to a wooden bench recliner. This patent eventually led to the founding of the La-Z-Boy company. In 1930, the same inventors patented an upholstered model. This version included a mechanical movement for better function. These early patents helped transition the recliner from a simple wooden bench to a complex piece of upholstered furniture.

In 1959, Daniel F. Caldemeyer patented a new recliner design. He was the owner of National Furniture Mfg. Co. in Evansville, Indiana. Caldemeyer used his knowledge of kinetics to improve the chair. Kinetics is the science of motion. His expertise came from his service in the US Air Force. Caldemeyer was a prolific inventor with over 300 patents. He added many features like the foot lift rest, heated seating, and massage. He also held the patent for the first entertainment center.

Caldemeyer's work had a significant impact on space exploration. NASA used his designs for several famous missions. These included Projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. His chairs were used in the ready rooms for these space missions. You can even see his chairs in the movie Apollo 13. The Secret Service also recognized the quality of his work. They purchased 50 chairs as a Christmas gift for President Lyndon Baines Johnson. One chair was even used by the President while he recovered from gall bladder surgery.

The legacy of these chairs is preserved in museums today. The Presidential Seal was embossed on the chairs given to President Johnson. One of these specific chairs is kept at the Smithsonian Institution. Another is located at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. The development of the recliner connects to several different fields. It involves the study of ergonomics, which focuses on human comfort. It also relates to the science of kinetics and the manufacturing of complex mechanical furniture.