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US 12,611,033 B2Granted
Chair mechanism with selective auto-rocking capability
AssigneeL&P Property Management Company
InventorsDavid Forgy, Ronald D. Davis, David Purser, Tony Diggs, Caleb Browning
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanism for a seating unit is provided that allows a reclining mechanism to freely rock on a rocker assembly when a locking actuator is in a first position, and that provides an auto-rocking motion, via a rocking actuator, when the locking actuator is in a second position.
Claims16
A mechanism for a seating unit having a pair of spaced apart arms, a seat, and a back, comprising:
- a stationary base configured to be coupled between the arms;
- a rocker assembly supported on a portion of the stationary base;
- a reclining mechanism coupled to the rocker assembly, the reclining mechanism configured to support the seat and the back of the seating unit;
- and
- an auto-rocker assembly having a first portion coupled to the stationary base and a second portion coupled to the reclining mechanism, the auto-rocker assembly comprising a rocking actuator, the auto-rocker assembly having a first state allowing the reclining mechanism to freely rock on the rocker assembly and a second state where the rocking actuator provides a powered rocking motion to the reclining mechanism on the rocker assembly, wherein the rocking actuator has a first end coupled to a portion of the reclining mechanism and a second end selectively coupled to a portion of the base, and wherein, when the second end of the rocking actuator is coupled to the base and the rocking actuator is activated, the rocking actuator provides the powered rocking motion to the reclining mechanism on the rocker assembly, and
- wherein the second end of the rocking actuator includes a pin on the end of an extendable and retractable shaft, the mechanism further comprising:
- a mounting bracket coupled to the stationary base, the mounting bracket having spaced apart sides, at least one of the sides having a slot, wherein the pin of the rocking actuator resides within the slot;
- and
- wherein in the first state the pin travels freely within the slot, and in the second state, the pin is captured within the slot, such that operation of the rocking actuator moves the reclining mechanism, through the rocker assembly, with respect to the base.
6 more elements
A motorized mechanism for a seating unit having a pair of spaced apart arms, a seat, and a back, the mechanism comprising:
- a stationary base;
- a rocker assembly supported on a portion of the stationary base;
- a reclining mechanism coupled to the rocker assembly, the reclining mechanism configured to support the seat and the back of the seating unit;
- and
- an auto-rocker assembly comprising:
- a locking actuator coupled to the stationary base and having an extendable and retractable shaft;
- and
- a rocking actuator coupled to a portion of the reclining mechanism, the rocking actuator having an extendable and retractable shaft,
- wherein, with the shaft of the locking actuator in a first position, the locking actuator is disengaged from the rocking actuator, allowing the reclining mechanism to freely rock on the rocker assembly and, with the shaft of the locking actuator in a second position, the locking actuator is engaged with the rocking actuator, such that extension and retraction of the rocking actuator shaft provides a powered rocking motion to the reclining mechanism on the rocker assembly,
- wherein the rocking actuator includes a pin on the end of the shaft of the rocking actuator, and wherein with the shaft of the locking actuator in the second position, the locking actuator engages the pin of the rocking actuator to restrict the pin from movement.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.