Low-profile, zero gravity, all-linkage seat mechanism with added back recline
AssigneeL&P Property Management Company
InventorsGregory Mark Lawson, Cheston Brett Crawford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chair mechanism is provided for a seating unit that has a footrest, a seat, and a back. The mechanism is adapted to move the seating unit from a closed position with the footrest stowed beneath the seat, the seat in a generally horizontal orientation, and the back in an upright position, to an extended position with the footrest extended, the seat inclined from back-to-front, and the back in a reclined position.
Claims18
A mechanism for a seating unit having a footrest, a seat, and a back, the mechanism adapted to move the seating unit from a closed position with the footrest stowed beneath the seat, the seat in a generally horizontal orientation, and the back in an upright position, to an extended position with the footrest extended, the seat inclined from back-to-front, and the back in a reclined position, the mechanism comprising:
- a pair of spaced apart first and second base plates, coupled together in spaced relation, each base plate having a front end and a rear end;
- and
- a pair of mechanisms operable to move the seating unit between the closed position and at the extended position, with one mechanism coupled to each base plate, each mechanism comprising:
- a seat plate pivotally coupled to one of the base plates with a first linkage that moves the seat plate between a first position when the seating unit is in the closed position and a second position when the seating unit is in the extended position;
- a back mounting link pivotally coupled to the seat plate and to a second linkage that reclines the back mounting link from a first, upright position when the seating unit is in the closed position to a second, reclined position when the seating unit is in the extended position;
- a footrest linkage pivotally coupled to the seat plate that moves the footrest from a stowed position when the seating unit is in the closed position to an open position when the seating unit is in the extended position;
- a third linkage, coupled to the footrest linkage, wherein the third linkage moves the footrest linkage between the stowed position and the open position;
- and
- a bell crank pivotally coupled to the seat plate, the bell crank having a first section extending in a first direction from the pivotal connection with the seat plate, and a second section extending in a second direction from the pivotal connection with the seat plate,
- wherein the first section is pivotally connected to a link in the third linkage, and wherein the second section is pivotally connected to a link in the third linkage and to a link in the second linkage.
A seating unit having a footrest, a seat, and a back, moveable between a closed position with the footrest stowed beneath the seat, the seat in a generally horizontal orientation, and the back in an upright position, and an extended position with the footrest extended, the seat inclined from back-to-front, and the back in a reclined position, the seating unit having a mechanism comprising:
- a pair of spaced apart first and second base plates, coupled together in spaced relation, each base plate having a front end and a rear end;
- and
- a pair of mechanisms operable to move the seating unit between the closed position and the extended position, with one mechanism coupled to each base plate, each mechanism comprising:
- a seat plate pivotally coupled to one of the base plates with a first linkage that moves the seat plate between a first position when the seating unit is in the closed position and a second position when the seating unit is in the extended position;
- a back mounting link pivotally coupled to the seat plate and to a second linkage that reclines the back mounting link from a first, upright position when the seating unit is in the closed position to a second, reclined position when the seating unit is in the extended position;
- a footrest linkage pivotally coupled to the seat plate that moves the footrest from a stowed position when the seating unit is in the closed position to an open position when the seating unit is in the extended position;
- a third linkage, coupled to the footrest linkage, wherein the third linkage moves the footrest linkage between the stowed position and the open position;
- and
- a bell crank pivotally coupled to the seat plate, the bell crank having a first section extending in a first direction from the pivotal connection with the seat plate, and a second section extending in a second direction from the pivotal connection with the seat plate,
- wherein the first section is pivotally connected to a link in the third linkage, and wherein the second section is pivotally connected to a link in the third linkage and to a link in the second linkage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.