# US 2015/0145291 A1 · Furniture member and power lift mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0145291 A1 - Document ID: US20150145291A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/607,565 - Filed: 2015-01-28 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-12 - Assignees: La-Z-Boy Incorporated - Applicants: La-Z-Boy Incorporated - Inventors: Larry P. LaPointe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150145291A1 ## CPC - A61G 5/14: Standing-up or sitting-down aids - A47C 1/022: having independently-adjustable supporting parts - A61G 5/127: {for lower legs} - F16B 4/004: {Press fits, force fits, interference fits, i.e. fits without heat or chemical treatment (F16B4/002 takes precedence)} - Y10T 29/49945: by driven force fit - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A lift chair includes a frame assembly including a chair portion rotatable with respect to a base portion. A lift mechanism portion is positioned in a base portion cavity. The lift mechanism portion includes a lift motor and a drive assembly connected to the lift motor having a slide. A lift tube connects the slide to the chair portion. The lift tube upon actuation of the lift motor displaces the chair portion between a nominal and a full lift position by slide displacement in a slide lifting direction. First and second guide members are positioned on opposite sides of the drive assembly and connected to a base portion base platform. The lift tube is connected to both the first and second guide members to distribute a weight load from the chair portion via the lift tube to the slide, and by the guide members to the base platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lift chair comprising: a rotatable frame assembly including a chair portion and a base portion; a support shaft connected to the chair portion having first and second extending portions each oppositely extending outward of the chair portion and at least partially extending through the chair portion; first and second base frame members of the base portion oriented parallel to each other and each having one of a first and a second U-shaped journal; and the first and second extending portions being individually received in one of the first and second U-shaped journals in an installation direction, the chair portion thereafter rotatably supported by the support shaft with respect to the base portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lift chair of claim 1, further including: first and second base frame members of the base portion oriented substantially parallel to each other; and first and second receiving faces each created in one of the first or second base frame members, the first and second receiving faces oriented parallel to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lift chair of claim 2, further including first and second connection members each including one of the first and second U-shaped journals and each connected to one of the first and second receiving faces. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The lift chair of claim 2, further including: a first receiving slot having a generally U-shape created partially in and extending downwardly from the first receiving face, the first receiving slot slidably receiving the first U-shaped journal; and a second receiving slot having a generally U-shape created partially in and extending downwardly from the second receiving face, the second receiving slot slidably receiving the second U-shaped journal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The lift chair of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second receiving faces is oriented parallel with respect to an upper face of a base platform of the base portion, and each is positioned proximate to a frame member forward edge of one of the first and second base frame members. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lift chair of claim 1, wherein the first and second extending portions are received in the first and second U-shaped journals using a frictional snap fit to resist release in a direction opposite to the installation direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lift chair of claim 1, further including a mechanism having a leg rest mechanism portion connected to the chair portion and a lift mechanism portion supported by the base portion, the leg rest mechanism portion including a drive rod connected to first and second pantograph linkage sets and rotatable relative to the chair portion to extend and retract first and second pantograph linkage sets, the first and second pantograph linkage sets also connected to and supported by the support shaft. ### Claim 8 A method for assembling a lift chair, the lift chair including a frame assembly having a chair portion, a base portion, a mechanism, a lift tube, a tube assembly; a support shaft with first and second extending portions, and first and second base frame members, the method comprising: connecting the first and second extending portions of the support shaft to the chair portion having each of the extending portions oppositely extending outward of the chair portion; orienting the first and second base frame members parallel to each other and providing each with one of a first and a second U-shaped journal; and individually pressing each of the first and second extending portions into individual ones of the first and second U-shaped journals in an installation direction by a frictional snap fit such that the chair portion is thereafter rotatably supported by the support shaft with respect to the base portion, the frictional snap fit resisting removal of the first and second extending portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: connecting the tube assembly to the chair portion; and fixing a clevis to the tube assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising slidably connecting a first portion of the lift tube to the mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising rotatably connecting a second portion of the lift tube to the clevis such that actuation of the mechanism slidably displaces the lift tube which raises the tube assembly and thereby rotates the chair portion with respect to a central axis defined by the first and second extending portions. ### Claim 12 A lift chair comprising: a frame assembly including a chair portion rotatable with respect to a base portion, the base portion defining a four-sided wood structure, including: first and second base frame members oriented parallel to each other; a rectangular shaped base platform supported on a floor oriented perpendicular to the first and second base frame members, the base platform including first and second opposing parallel surfaces, the first and second surfaces having larger surface areas than any other surface of the base platform, the first surface facing the floor; and a third base frame member defining a rear facing wall of the base portion, the first, second and third base frame members extending vertically upward from the second surface of the base platform; and a mechanism having a lift mechanism portion positioned in a cavity of the base portion, the lift mechanism portion entirely fixedly connected to the base platform and the third base frame member and rotatably connected to the chair portion, the lift mechanism acting to rotate the chair portion between a nominal position and a raised full lift position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lift chair of claim 12, wherein the lift mechanism portion includes: a lift motor; and a drive assembly connected to the lift motor having a slide displaceable in each of a slide lifting direction and oppositely in a slide returning direction by selective operation of the lift motor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lift chair of claim 13, further including a lift tube connected at a first end to the slide and connected at a second end to the chair portion, the lift tube upon actuation of the lift motor acting to displace the chair portion between the nominal position and the raised full lift position by displacement of the slide in the slide lifting direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The lift chair of claim 13, wherein a load transferred from an occupant of the chair portion to the slide is supported by the base platform. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The lift chair of claim 13, further comprising: a seat back assembly forwardly and rearwardly rotated by operation of only the lift mechanism portion; a leg rest mechanism portion of the mechanism connected to the chair portion; and a leg rest member extended and retracted between a stowed position and an outward extended position by operation of only the leg rest mechanism portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The lift chair of claim 12, further including a support shaft connected to the chair portion having first and second extending portions each oppositely extending outward of the chair portion and each rotatably connected to one of the first and second base frame members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The lift chair of claim 12, wherein the third frame member is positioned proximate to a base platform rear edge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The lift chair of claim 12, wherein the chair portion is movable to each of a forward lift position and a rearward tilt position by operation of the lift mechanism portion independent of the nominal and the raised full lift positions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The lift chair of claim 12, wherein the chair portion defines a four-sided wood structure, including: first and second chair frame members oriented parallel to each other; a rear wall member connected between the first and second chair frame members; and a front wall member connected between the first and second chair frame members. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The lift chair of claim 20, wherein the first and second chair frame members of the chair portion nest within the first and second base frame members of the base portion.