Multiple position leg rest mechanism for a reclining chair
AssigneeLa-Z-Boy Incorporated
InventorLarry P. LaPointe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three-position leg rest mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a locking link and sector members rotatably supported on the locking link. The sector members are operably coupled to the drive rod for rotation therewith. A locking pin engages the sector members to selectively lock the drive member, and hence the leg rest assembly in one of three positions. The end of the locking link opposite the sector members is coupled to the support shaft of the actuation mechanism.
Claims18
In an actuation mechanism of the type having a drive rod and a front support shaft, a leg rest assembly for releasable positioning a leg rest in a retracted position, an extended position and at least one intermediate position, said leg rest positioning mechanism comprising:
- an incline link having a pivot pin extending therethrough at a first end, an L-shaped guideway formed though said incline link adjacent said pivot pin, a second end of said incline link being coupled to the front support shaft;
- a sector assembly including a sector plate disposed on each side of said incline link and rotatably supported on said pivot pin and a spacer plate interposed between each of said sector plates, each of said sector plates being coupled to the drive rod for co-rotation therewith and having a peripheral edge with a first cam, a second cam and at least one recess formed therein;
- a detent pin received in said L-shaped guideway and engaging said peripheral edge of said sector plates;
- a biasing mechanism for biasing said detent pin into engagement with said peripheral edge;
- wherein said first cam positions said detent pin into a longitudinal portion of said L-shaped guideway when the leg rest is in a retracted position, said detent pin engages said at least one recess when the leg rest is in an intermediate position and said second cam positions said detent pin into a transverse portion of said L-shaped guideway when the leg rest is in an extended position.
An actuation mechanism for a chair having a retractable leg rest assembly comprising:
- a drive rod and a front support shaft;
- a pantograph linkage operably coupled to said drive rod and a leg rest panel secured to an end of said pantograph linkage for coordinated articulated movement between a retracted position, an intermediate position and an extended position in response to rotation of said drive rod;
- a leg rest positioning mechanism having:
- an incline link with a pivot pin extending therethrough at a first end, an L-shaped guideway formed though said incline link adjacent said pivot pin, a second end of said incline link being coupled to said front support shaft;
- a sector assembly including a sector plate disposed on each side of said incline link and rotatably supported on said pivot pin and a spacer plate interposed between each of said sector plates, each of said sector plates being coupled to the drive rod for co-rotation therewith and having a peripheral edge with a first cam, a second cam and at least one recess formed therein;
- a detent pin received in said L-shaped guideway and engaging said peripheral edge of said sector plates;
- a biasing mechanism for biasing said detent pin into engagement with said peripheral edge;
- wherein said first cam positions said detent pin into a longitudinal portion of said L-shaped guideway when the leg rest panel is in said retracted position, said detent pin engages said at least one recess when the leg rest panel is in said intermediate position and said second cam positions said detent pin into a transverse portion of said L-shaped guideway when the leg rest is in said extended position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.