The concept of a reclining furniture was first introduced in 1860 by a European inventor named Heinrich E. Gottlieb. He developed a chair that was custom-made for individuals with impairments, enabling them to recline and unwind.
However, the first patented version of a leaning chair was designed by a British engineer named John Smith in 1901. His design featured a rotating backrest and a tilt mechanism that allowed the user to recline, but it was more like a furniture idea rather than a practical item.
The modern chair as we know it today began to take shape in the United States in the 1930s. In 1927, a American innovator named Henry Lee described the concept of a reclining furniture with a gas-filled footrest. This concept caught the attention of a Kansas-based decorative manufacturer, La-Z-Boy, which is where the modern chair was born.
The Recliner Co. was actually established in 1927 by two cousins, Edward and Edwin Munchow, but it was Henry Lee's design that gave them the idea for the spring-loaded ottoman. They realized the possibility of this design and released the first La-Z-Boy chair in 1929. The name The Recliner Co. was actually coined from the idea of people lounging all day in their chairs, hence the term 'lay back and реклайнер boy' but later shortened and rebranded.
The Recliner Co.'s adoption of the recliner helped make it a item in Western homes, and by the mid-20th era, recliners became a usual aspect in many households. Over the years, chair production has evolved with developments in materials and design. Modern chairs come in a range of designs, from leather to automatic chairs with infinite settings.
The fame of chairs extended internationally, and the concept is now widely accepted in many countries. The evolution of recliner manufacture is a testament to innovation and the need for comfort and relaxation.