US 8,696,054 B2Granted

Enhanced compatibility for a linkage mechanism

AssigneeL&P Property Management Company

InventorMichael Crum

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Abstract

Provided is a linkage mechanism for a recliner that includes a seat rail, an arm mounting plate that is vertically supported by one or more legs, a footrest assembly adapted to extend ottoman(s) when the recliner is adjusted from a closed to an extended position, and a roller link that translates forward when the recliner is adjusted from the extended position to a reclined position. The arm mounting plate includes a forward guide slot and a rearward guide slot having respective tracks installed thereto. The roller link includes a forward roller and a rearward roller that are rotatably coupled thereto. Further, the forward and rearward rollers are moveably engaged to the tracks of the forward and rearward guide slots, respectively, facilitating the forward translation of the roller link. A pair of substantially parallel-spaced TV links act in cooperation to pivotably couple the roller link to the arm mounting plate.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A seating unit having 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 arm mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein each of the arm mounting plates includes a forward guide slot and a rearward guide slot having respective tracks installed thereto;
a pair of seat rails in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein the seat rails translatably carry the seat over the arm mounting plates;
and
a pair of the generally mirror-image linkage mechanisms each moveably interconnecting each of the arm mounting plates to a respective seat rail, wherein each of the linkage mechanisms comprise:
(a) a roller link that includes a forward roller and a rearward roller that are rotatably coupled thereto, wherein the forward and rearward rollers are translatably engaged to the tracks of the forward and rearward guide slots, respectively;
(b) a forward TV link that includes an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of the forward TV link is pivotably coupled to a forward portion of the seat rail and the lower end of the forward TV link is pivotably coupled to a forward portion of the roller link;
(c) a rearward TV link that includes an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of the rearward TV link is pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the seat rail and the lower end of the rearward TV link is pivotably coupled to a rearward portion of the roller link;
(d) a lock pivot link that is fixedly and non-rotatably attached to the forward portion of the seat rail;
and
(e) a footrest lock link that is pivotably coupled to the lock pivot link and is operatively coupled to a front drive tube, which rotates to pivot the footrest lock link.

7 more elements

A linkage mechanism that is configured to adjust a seating unit between a closed, an extended, and a reclined position, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises:

an arm mounting plate that has a forward guide slot and a rearward guide slot formed therein;
a seat rail configured to translatably carry an occupant of the seating unit with respect to the arm mounting plate;
a roller link assembly for translatably coupling the seating unit to the arm mounting plate, wherein the roller link assembly comprises:
(a) a forward track installed within a forward guide slot of the arm mounting plate;
(b) a rearward track installed within a rearward guide slot of the arm mounting plate;
(c) a roller link;
(d) a forward roller rotatably coupled to the roller link, wherein the forward roller is translatably engaged to the forward track;
(e) a rearward roller rotatably coupled to the roller link, wherein the rearward roller is translatably engaged to the rearward track;
(f) a lock pivot link that is fixedly and non-rotatably attached to a forward portion of the seat rail;
and
(g) a footrest lock link that is pivotably coupled to the lock pivot link and is operatively coupled to a front drive tube, which rotates to pivot the footrest lock link.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/295,223Filed 14 Nov 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 May 2011
Published: US 2012/0299363 A129 Nov 2012
Granted: 15 Apr 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A47C 1/0355
In combination with movably-coupled seat and back-rest: actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms
A47C 1/0352
In combination with movably-coupled seat and back-rest: characterised by coupled seat and back-rest slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by…
Y10T 74/20207
Control lever and linkage systems: multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
A47C
Chairs