Modular reclining/tilt chair and method
AssigneeLa-Z-Boy Chair Company
InventorsJonathan R. Saul, Karl J. Komorowski, Larry P. LaPointe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular reclining/tilt chair and method for assembling it are disclosed. The modular reclining/tilt chair includes a simplified actuation mechanism which significantly reduces system complexity and weight while providing improved comfort to the seat occupant. The construction is such that the pre-assembled actuation mechanism is integrally suspended from and interdependent with box-like modular frame components. In this manner, the frame components can be upholstered prior to final assembly with the actuation mechanism.
Claims21
A reclinable tiltable seating unit supported via a pivot means on a stationary base assembly comprising:
- a pair of side frame members;
- a support shaft transversely extending between said side frame members;
- a drive rod transversely extending between said side frame members;
- a leg rest assembly suspended from said support shaft and operatively coupled to said drive rod, said drive rod being moveable between a first position wherein said leg rest assembly is releasably retained in a retracted position and a second position wherein said leg rest assembly is permitted to move toward an extended position;
- a tilt mechanism journally suspended from said support shaft and operatively coupled to said drive rod and to said base assembly, wherein said seating unit is at rest when said drive rod is in said first position and said seating unit is tilted upwardly and pivoted about said pivot means when said drive rod is in said second position;
- a seat assembly having a seat, a detachable seat back, and swing link means for pivotally interconnecting said seat and seat back to said side frame members, said swing link means operable to permit reclining movement of said seat assembly between an upright position and a reclined position in response to pressure applied by a seat occupant to said seat back;
- guide means operable for guiding and limiting longitudinal movement of said seat assembly;
- linkage means operatively coupling said leg rest assembly to said drive rod for biasingly retaining said leg rest assembly in said retracted position when said drive rod is in said first position and for biasingly driving said leg rest assembly toward said extended position when said drive rod is in said second position;
- and
- means for permitting said seat occupant to selectively move said drive rod between said first and second positions.
A frame for a tiltable seating unit having a pair of pantograph linkages supporting a leg rest member for movement between extended and retracted positions, and a tilt linkage mechanism to simultaneously tilt said frame about a stationary base upon which said frame is supported, comprising:
- a pair of side frame members having forward and rearward end portions, said side frame members having a plurality of alignment bores formed therein for operably suspending a reclining/tilt actuation mechanism therebetween, said reclining/tilt actuation mechanism having a single reclining/tilt linkage assembly,
- a rear cross-rail member interconnected between said rearward end portions of said side frame members,
- a front cross-rail member interconnected between said forward end portions of said side frame members, said front cross-rail member having a pair of elongated apertures through which said pair of pantograph linkages protrude to travel during movement of said leg rest member between said extended and retracted positions.
A reclinable tiltable seating unit comprising:
- a base pivotably supporting said seating unit;
- a pair of side frame members;
- tilt means including a drive rod, a support shaft and a linkage assembly journally supported on said support shaft and operatively coupled to said drive rod, said tilt means suspended between said side frame members and operatively coupled to said base for maintaining said seating unit in a first non-tilted position when said drive rod is in a first position and tilting said seating unit to a second position when said drive rod is moved to a second position;
- a seat assembly having a seat, seat back, and swing link means pivotably interconnecting said seat to said seat back, whereby said seat assembly is operable to permit reclining movement of said seat back between a first non-reclined position and a second reclined position in response to pressure applied by a seat occupant to said seat;
- guide means operable for guiding and limiting longitudinal movement of said seat with respect to said support shaft in response to reclining movement of said seat assembly;
- and
- means for permitting said seat occupant to selectively move said drive rod between said first and second positions.
A frame for a tiltable seating unit having a pair of pantograph linkages supporting a leg rest member for movement between extended and retracted positions, and a tilt linkage mechanism for simultaneously tilting said frame about a stationary base upon which said frame is supported comprising:
- a pair of side frame members having forward and rearward end portions, said side frame members adapted for operably suspending a reclining/tilt actuation mechanism therebetween,
- a rear cross-rail member interconnected between said rearward end portions of said side frame members,
- a front cross-rail member interconnected between said forward end portions of said side frame members, said front cross-rail member having a pair of elongated apertures through which said pair of pantograph linkages protrude to travel during movement of said leg rest member between said extended and retracted positions,
- an angle bracket provided at each end of said rear cross-rail member and an angled bracket provided at each end of said front cross-rail member for increasing the interconnection surface between said cross-rails and said side frame members, and
- at least one dowel protruding from the outer ends of said rear cross-rail and corresponding holes formed in said side frame members for receiving said dowels, and wherein said angled brackets are secured to said cross-rail and side frame members, and to said front cross-rail members, with conventional fastening means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.