# US 10,118,508 B2 · Motor driven sloped floor recline mechanism for a theater seat

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- Number: US 10,118,508 B2
- Document ID: US10118508B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/155,004
- Filed: 2016-05-14
- Published: 2016-11-17
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-14
- Assignees: VIP Cinema LLC
- Applicants: VIP Cinema LLC
- Inventors: Jeffrey Bowen; Terry Dale Johnson; Stephen Simons
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118508B2

## CPC

- B60N 2/2252: {in which the central axis of the gearing lies inside the periphery of an orbital gear, e.g. one gear without sun gear}
- A47C 1/03211: {by electric motors}
- A47C 1/0345: {characterised by foot-rests actuated by lazy-tongs}
- A47C 1/12: Theatre, auditorium or similar chairs (detachable seats for mounting on stadium benches A47C1/16)
- B60N 2/995: {Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests}
- B60N 2/02258: {characterised by the mounting of the electric motor for adjusting the seat}
- B60N 2205/50: Interlocking shaft arrangements transmitting movement between hinge mechanisms on both sides of a seat
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS

## Abstract

Described is recline mechanism for a comfort seating assembly such as a theater seat which can be mounted on a sloped surface. In a fully recline position, the seating assembly is compact with a layout that falls generally within its profile. The recline mechanism includes a pair of each of: seat rail brackets, front pivot links, rear pivot upper lift link to control the motion of the rear end of the assembly, rear pivot links each attached to one rear pivot upper lift link, carrier links, each carrier link attached to one front pivot link and to a rear pivot link and a pair of rear pivot upper lift control links, attached to a pivot upper lift link and to a carrier link. A linear actuator attached by motor drive tubes at two ends of the linkage system transitions the recline mechanism between the closed and recline positions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A recline mechanism for a seating assembly comprising,
a pair of seat rail brackets;
a pair of front pivot links, each link of said pair of front pivot links attached to one bracket of said pair of seat rail bracket;
a pair of rear pivot upper lift link configured to control the motion of a rear end of the seating assembly wherein each link of said pair of rear pivot upper lift links is attached at its upper end to one bracket of said pair of seat rail brackets;
a pair of rear pivot links each link attached at its upper end to the lower end of one link of said pair of rear pivot upper lift links;
a pair of carrier links, each of said carrier links attached to one link of said pair of front pivot links and to the lower end of one link of said pair of rear pivot links; and
a pair of rear pivot upper lift control links, each link of said rear pivot upper lift control link attached at its upper end to one link of said pair of pivot upper lift links and at its lower end to one link of said pair of carrier links.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The recline mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a linear actuator, a front motor drive tube, and a rear motor drive tube, wherein the front motor drive tube is attached to each of said pair of front pivot links and the back motor drive tube is attached to the pair of rear pivot links, and wherein said linear actuator is attached to said front motor drive tube by a pair of front actuator attachment points and to said rear motor drive by a pair of rear actuator attachment points.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A seating assembly comprising the reclining mechanism of claim 1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The seating assembly of claim 3, wherein the seating assembly is a theater seat.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The seating assembly of claim 3, wherein the seating assembly is mounted on a sloped surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The seating assembly of claim 3, wherein the seating assembly is mounted on a flat surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The seating assembly of claim 3, further comprising a seat frame assembly attached to the seat rail bracket, a back frame assembly attached to the seat frame assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The recline mechanism of claim 7 wherein the seat assembly further comprises an Ottoman assembly so as to provide a foot rest to the user of the seat assembly, wherein the Ottoman assembly is attached to said seat frame by links via pivotal connection points.

### Claim 9

A recline mechanism for a seating assembly comprising,
a pair of seat rail brackets;
a pair of front pivot links, each of said pair of front pivot links attached to one of said pair of seat rail bracket on opposite sides;
a pair of rear pivot upper lift link configured to control the motion of a rear end of the seating assembly wherein each of said pair of rear pivot upper lift links is attached at its upper end to one of said pair of seat rail brackets;
a pair of rear pivot links each attached at its upper end to the lower end of one of said pair of rear pivot upper lift links;
a pair of carrier links, each of said carrier links attached to one of said pair of front pivot links and to the lower end of one of said pair of rear pivot links; and
a pair of rear pivot upper lift control links, each of said rear pivot upper lift control link attached at its upper end to one of said pivot upper lift link and at its lower end to one of said carrier link;
a linear actuator;
a front motor drive tube; and
a rear motor drive tube,
wherein the front motor drive tube is attached to each of said pair of front pivot links and the back motor drive tube is attached to the pair of rear pivot links, and wherein said linear actuator is attached to said front motor drive tube by a pair of front actuator attachment points and to said rear motor drive by a pair of rear actuator attachment points such that the linear actuator is configured to move at both ends.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A seating assembly comprising the recline mechanism of claim 9.