US 8,911,009 B2Granted

Rocking-reclining seating unit

AssigneeUltra-Mek, Inc.

InventorsD. Stephen Hoffman, Marcus L. Murphy

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Abstract

A reclining seating unit includes: a base; a rocker assembly fixed to the base; an arm frame fixed to the rocker assembly, wherein the rocker assembly is configured such that the arm frame experiences rocking motion relative to the base; a generally horizontally-disposed seat; a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat; a footrest unit; and a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls movement of the seat and the backrest relative to the arm frame between an upright position and a reclined position. The footrest unit comprises at least one footrest and a footrest mechanism that interconnects the footrest with the seat. And is decoupled from the reclining mechanism. When the backrest moves between the upright and reclined positions, the footrest unit moves relative to the arm frame in concert with the seat. In the reclined position, the rocking mechanism prevents the arm frame from rocking.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A reclining seating unit, comprising:

a base;
a rocker assembly fixed to the base;
an arm frame fixed to the rocker assembly;
wherein the rocker assembly is configured such that the arm frame experiences rocking motion relative to the base;
a generally horizontally-disposed seat;
a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat;
a footrest unit;
a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls movement of the seat and the backrest relative to the arm frame between an upright position and a reclined position;
wherein in the upright position, the backrest is generally upright and positioned above the arm frame, and the seat has a first rearward position relative to the arm frame;
and
wherein in the reclined position, the backrest is reclined relative to the underlying surface as compared to its disposition in the upright position and the seat has a second forward position relative to the arm frame that is forward of the first rearward position;
the footrest unit comprising at least one footrest and a footrest mechanism that interconnects the footrest with the seat, the footrest mechanism configured to move the footrest between a retracted position, in which the footrest is positioned beneath the seat, and an extended position, in which the footrest is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat;
the footrest mechanism being decoupled from the reclining mechanism;
wherein, when the backrest moves between the upright and reclined positions, the footrest unit moves relative to the arm frame in concert with the seat;
and
wherein, in the reclined position, the rocker assembly is configured such that the arm frame is prevented from rocking.

13 more elements

A reclining seating unit, comprising:

a base;
a rocker assembly fixed to the base;
an arm frame fixed to the rocker assembly;
a generally horizontally-disposed seat;
a generally upright backrest positioned rearwardly of the seat;
a reclining mechanism that interconnects and controls movement of the seat and the backrest relative to the arm frame between an upright position and a reclined position;
wherein in the upright position, the backrest is generally upright and positioned above the arm frame, and the seat has a first rearward position relative to the arm frame;
and
wherein in the reclined position, the backrest is reclined relative to the underlying surface as compared to its disposition in the upright position;
wherein the rocker assembly is configured such that the arm frame experiences rocking motion relative to the base and comprises:
a mounting bracket fixed relative to the base;
a rocking link fixed relative to the arm frame and pivotally attached to the mounting bracket at a first pivot, wherein the first pivot is positioned near a frontmost portion of the seat;
and
a spring unit attached to the mounting bracket and to the locking link that is configured to dampen relative rocking motion of the arm frame and the base;
and
wherein, in the reclined position, the rocker assembly is configured such that the arm frame is prevented from rocking;
and wherein the spring unit comprises:
a helical spring;
a rod that is inserted within coils of the spring, wherein a first end of the rod is pivotally attached to the mounting bracket;
an end cap attached to a second end of the rod and abutting one end of the spring;
and
a spring base fixed to the rocking link and abutting the other end of the spring.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/334,938Filed 22 Dec 2011 · continuation in part
Priority: 8 Nov 2010
Published: US 2012/0112517 A114 Jun 2012
Granted: 16 Dec 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A47C 1/03266
Characterised by elastic means: with adjustable elasticity
A47C 1/03272
Characterised by elastic means: with coil springs
A47C 1/0355
In combination with movably-coupled seat and back-rest: actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms
A47C
Chairs

Family

Application12/941,278Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Nov 2010
US 2012/0146364 A1Pre-grant publication · published 14 Jun 2012
US 2012/0112517 A1Published application
US 8,967,718 B2Related patent
US 8,911,009 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.