US 8,573,687 B2Granted

Zero-wall clearance linkage mechanism for providing additional layout

AssigneeL&P Property Management Company

InventorsGregory M. Lawson, Stephen Lake

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to adjust between closed, extended, and reclined positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a seat-mounting plate mounted to a footrest assembly, a back-mounting link and a rear bellcrank both rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate, an activator bar that controls a footrest drive link, and a linear actuator for carrying out automated adjustment of the linkage assembly. In operation, a stroke in a first phase of the linear actuator generates a torque on the activator bar. The footrest drive link converts the torque into a laterally-directed force that pushes the footrest assembly into the extended position. A stroke in the second phase acts to push the activator bar forward and translate the seat-mounting plate forward at a consistent inclination angle. The forward translation causes the rear bellcrank to rotate, thereby biasing the back-mounting link rearward into the reclined position.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A seating unit, comprising:

a pair of base plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation;
a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein each of the seat-mounting plates is disposed in an inclined orientation in relation to each of the base plates, respectively;
and
a pair of generally mirror-image linkage mechanisms each moveably interconnecting each of the base plates to a respective seat-mounting plate, and adapted to move between a closed position, an extended position, and a reclined position, wherein each of the linkage mechanisms comprise:
(a) a back-mounting link that supports a backrest, wherein the back-mounting link is rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate;
(b) a rear control link that is pivotably coupled to the back-mounting link;
(c) a rear pivot link that is rotatably coupled at a first end directly to a respective base plate;
and
(d) a rear bellcrank that is rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate and is pivotably coupled to the rear control link and to a second end of the rear pivot link that opposes the first end, the pivotable coupling of the rear bellcrank to the rear control link and the rear pivot link establishes an inclined orientation relationship between the seat-mounting plates and the base plates,
wherein the inter-coupling of the rear control link, the rear pivot link, and the rear bellcrank is adapted to translate the seat-mounting plates over the base plates during adjustment between the closed position, the extended position, and the reclined position while maintaining the inclined orientation relationship therebetween.

7 more elements

A seating unit having a chassis, a seat, a backrest, and at least one foot-support ottoman, the seating unit being adapted to move between a closed, an extended and a reclined position, the seating unit comprising:

a pair of base plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein the base plates are mounted to the chassis and are vertically raised above an underlying surface by a plurality of supports;
a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein the seat-mounting plates translatably carry the seat over the base plates;
and
a pair of the generally mirror-image linkage mechanisms each moveably interconnecting each of the base plates to a respective seat-mounting plate, wherein each of the linkage mechanisms comprise:
(a) a front bellcrank that includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a mid portion that is rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate;
(b) a carrier link having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being pivotably coupled to the upper portion of the front bellcrank;
and
(c) a front pivot link having an upper portion, lower portion, and a mid portion, wherein the mid portion of the front pivot link is rotatably coupled to the lower portion of the carrier link, and wherein the lower portion of the front pivot link is pivotably coupled to a respective base plate.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.