Glider seating unit with selectively powered gliding motion

A method of operating a glider seating unit, comprising:

• providing the glider seating unit, comprising:
• a base frame;
• a glide assembly connected to the base frame and being configured to glide in a forward direction and in a backward direction relative to the base frame;
• and
• a glider drive mechanism connected to the base frame, the glider drive mechanism comprising:
• a motor;
• a drive shaft connected to the motor;
• a crankshaft releasably connected to the drive shaft at a joint;
• and
• a linkage connected between the crankshaft and the glide assembly;
• operating the motor of the glider drive mechanism to rotate the drive shaft in a first rotational direction to connect the drive shaft to the crankshaft;
• operating the motor in the first rotational direction to induce reciprocating forward and rearward gliding motion of the glide assembly relative to the base frame;
• and
• operating the motor in a second rotational direction to disconnect the drive shaft from the crankshaft to permit the glide assembly to glide freely forward and backward relative to the base frame.

A glider drive mechanism for a glider seating unit that includes a base frame and a glide assembly movably connected to the base frame and being configured to glide in a forward direction and in a backward direction relative to the base frame, the glider drive mechanism comprising:

• a motor connected to the base frame;
• a drive shaft connected to the motor;
• a crankshaft releasably connected to the drive shaft at a joint;
• and
• a linkage configured to be connected between the crankshaft and the glide assembly of the glider seating unit;
• wherein the glider drive mechanism is configured to be operated to connect the crankshaft to the drive shaft such that operation of the motor is configured to induce reciprocating forward and backward gliding motion of the glide assembly relative to the base frame, and wherein the glider drive mechanism is configured to be operated to disconnect the drive shaft from the crankshaft such that the glide assembly is configured to glide freely forward and backward relative to the base frame.