US 8,944,498 B2Granted

Linkage mechanism for a dual-motor lifting recliner

AssigneeL & Property Management Company

InventorGregory M. Lawson

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Abstract

A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to move the seating unit between closed, extended, reclined, and seat-lift positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a footrest assembly and a back-mounting link coupled to a seat-mounting plate, a base plate coupled to a lift-base assembly via a lift assembly, a drive bracket, a motor tube, and two linear actuators for automating adjustment of the linkage mechanism. In operation, a first phase involves a second linear actuator rotating the motor tube, thereby causing the seat-adjustment assembly to bias the seat-mounting plate. A second phase involves a first linear actuator rotating the drive bracket, thereby causing the footrest assembly to extend or retract without affecting the bias of the back-mounting link. A third phase involves the first linear actuator causing the lift assembly to raise and tilt the base plate directly over the lift-base assembly.

Claims19

Dependent claims

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, a reclined, and a seat-lift position, the seating unit comprising:

a lift-base assembly for supporting the seating unit on underlying surface;
a pair of base plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein each base plate includes a tubular portion, a first plate coupled to a forward portion of the tubular portion, and a second plate that is coupled to a rearward portion of the tubular portion;
a pair of lift assemblies, wherein each of the lift assemblies is attached to a respective base plate and raises and lowers the respective base plate directly above the lift-base assembly;
a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein the seat-mounting plates suspend the seat over the lift assemblies and wherein each seat-mounting plate is attached to a respective second plate of a respective base plate;
a pair of 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 footrest assembly that extends and retracts the at least one foot-support ottoman;
and
(b) a seat-adjustment assembly that reclines and inclines the backrest;
a first linear actuator that provides automated adjustment of the seating unit between the closed position, the extended position, and the seat-lift position, wherein the first linear actuator is configured to move the lift assemblies into and out of the seat-lift position while maintaining the linkage mechanisms in the closed position and while consistently maintaining the seat-mounting plates inside a footprint of the lift-base assembly;
and
a second linear actuator that provides automated adjustment of the seating unit between the extended position and the reclined position.

8 more elements

A chair-adjustment mechanism adapted to move a seating unit between a reclined, an extended, a closed, and a seat-lift position, the chair-adjustment mechanism comprising:

a pair of generally minor-image linkage mechanisms, each linkage mechanism comprising:
a seat-mounting plate that includes forward portion and a rearward portion and that fixedly mounts to a seat;
a base plate that includes a forward portion, a mid portion, and a rearward portion;
a footrest assembly that extends and retracts at least one foot-support ottoman;
a seat-adjustment assembly coupled to the seat-mounting plate and the base plate comprising:
(a) a rear bellcrank that is pivotably coupled directly or indirectly to the rearward portion of the base plate;
(b) a back-mounting link that pivotably coupled directly or indirectly to the rearward portion of the seat-mounting plate;
(c) a back-support link that has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of the back-support link is pivotably coupled to the back-mounting link, and wherein the lower end of the back-support link is pivotably coupled to the rear bellcrank;
and
(d) a second motor tube that is fixedly attached directly or indirectly to the rear bellcrank, wherein the second motor tube extends substantially perpendicular to the rear bellcrank in an inward manner to attach the generally minor-image linkage mechanisms;
a lift assembly attached to each base plate of the pair of generally minor-image linkage mechanisms;
a first linear actuator that provides automated adjustment of the chair-adjustment mechanism between the closed position, the extended position, and the seat-lift position, wherein a first-linear-actuator adjustment is sequenced into a second phase and a third phase, wherein the second phase moves the footrest assembly between the extended position and the closed position, and wherein the third phase moves the lift assembly into and out of a seat-lift position while maintaining the pair of linkage mechanisms in the closed position;
and
a second linear actuator that provides automated adjustment of the chair-adjustment mechanism between the extended position and the reclined position, wherein the second-linear-actuator adjustment involves a first phase that is sequenced with the second phase and the third phase such that the first, second, and third phases are substantially mutually exclusive in stroke, wherein the first phase moves the seat-adjustment assembly between the reclined position and the extended position.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.