The Genesis of the Rise and Recline Chairs

The French get the credit for introducing the first recliner to the world. Way back in 1850, the French designed a reclining camp cot which could function as a chair, chaise longue and bed. It was an innovative invention for its time as this cot was portable and came with a steel frame and padded armrest, with Napoleon III being the first person in the world to own one.

The Modification

Two cousins from America – Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker – were responsible for patenting the design of the recliners that are more commonly seen today. The first of their designs was a wooden recliner, which then led on to the founding of the iconic La-Z-Boy recliners.

The cousins set up their own manufacturing company called Kna-Shoe to make furniture however weren’t initially successful in their endeavours, so changed the name of their company to Floral City Furniture. It was then that the cousins came up with an upholstered recliner with mechanical movement which allowed an individual to sit up comfortably and also recline after leaning against the back of the chair.

While the cousins juggled with many names, they finally settled on the La-Z-Boy, yet this design was different from the models available today as the earlier versions didn’t have a foot rest, which was added in 1951.

Today, recliners are popular amongst people with limited mobility as they enable you to go from being seated to standing without struggling or facing difficulties. It can make the lives of those with mobility issues easier and lead to an improved overall quality of life.

If you are looking for high-quality rise and recline chairs, look no further than here at the Recliner Chair Centre. We have been in this business for more than 30 years and have the knowledge and experience to help you choose the perfect chair to meet your needs. Our chairs are priced competitively and come in a wide range of styles and colours, so browse our website or contact us today to find out more.