Recliner and legrest mechanism for a furniture member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10092106-B2
Application number	US-201514798867-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2015
Priority date	Jul 14, 2015
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

A furniture member may include a stationary base frame, a seatback frame, a seat bottom frame and a linkage. The seatback frame is supported by the base frame and is pivotable relative to the base frame. The seat bottom frame maybe supported by the base frame and may be movable relative to the seatback frame and the base frame. The linkage is attached to the base frame, the seatback frame, the seat bottom frame and a legrest platform. The linkage is movable between first and second positions. Movement of the linkage toward the first position causes the seatback frame to move toward a fully upright position and simultaneously causes the legrest platform to move toward a stowed position. Movement of the linkage toward the second position causes the seatback frame to move toward a fully reclined position and simultaneously causes the legrest platform to move toward a fully extended position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A furniture member comprising:
a stationary base frame;
a seatback frame supported by the base frame and pivotable relative to the base frame about an axis extending through an upper portion of the seatback frame;
a seat bottom frame supported by the base frame and movable relative to the seatback frame and the base frame; and
a linkage attached to the base frame, the seatback frame, the seat bottom frame and a legrest platform, the linkage being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the linkage toward the first position causes the seatback frame to move toward a fully upright position and simultaneously causes the legrest platform to move toward a stowed position, wherein movement of the linkage toward the second position causes the seatback frame to move toward a fully reclined position and simultaneously causes the legrest platform to move toward a fully extended position,
wherein the linkage includes a track assembly including a first member and a second member that is translatable along a length of the first member,
wherein the second member is rotatably coupled with a platform bracket supporting the legrest platform, and
wherein the first member is movable relative to the base frame and the seat bottom frame such that an end of the first member moves away from the base frame and the seat bottom frame as the linkage moves toward the second position.

2. The furniture member of claim 1 , wherein the base frame hides the entire linkage from view when the linkage is in the first position.

3. The furniture member of claim 1 , wherein the linkage is powered by a single motor movable in a first direction to move the seatback from the fully upright position to the fully reclined position while simultaneously moving the legrest platform from the stowed position to the fully extended position, and wherein the single motor is movable in a second direction to move the seatback from the fully reclined position to the fully upright position while simultaneously moving the legrest platform from the fully extended position to the stowed position.

4. The furniture member of claim 3 , wherein the motor moves a slide member linearly along a guide member, the slide member is rotatably attached to the seat bottom frame, and the guide member is rotatably attached to the base frame.

5. The furniture member of claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a throw arm that is coupled to the first member for rotation relative to the first member and translation with the first member relative to the stationary base frame.

6. The furniture member of claim 5 , wherein the throw arm is rotatably coupled to an extension link that is rotatably coupled to the platform bracket.

7. The furniture member of claim 6 , wherein the base frame includes a first roller that is received in a curved track of the first member.

8. The furniture member of claim 7 , wherein the base frame includes a second roller that is received in another track fixedly attached to the seat bottom frame.

9. The furniture member of claim 8 , wherein the throw arm is rotatably coupled to first, second and third links at three different locations along a length of the throw arm.

10. The furniture member of claim 9 , wherein rotation of the throw arm determines timing of movement of the seatback frame, the seat bottom frame and the legrest platform relative to the base frame.

11. The furniture member of claim 1 , wherein the base frame is configured for a single seat assembly.

12. The furniture member of claim 1 , wherein the base frame is configured for a plurality of seat assemblies.

13. A furniture member comprising:
a stationary base frame;
a seatback frame supported by the base frame and pivotable relative to the base frame;
a seat bottom frame supported by the base frame and movable relative to the seatback frame and the base frame; and
a linkage attached to the base frame, the seatback frame, the seat bottom frame and a legrest platform, the linkage being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the linkage toward the first position causes the seatback frame to move toward a fully upright position and simultaneously causes the legrest platform to move toward a stowed position, wherein movement of the linkage toward the second position causes the seatback frame to move toward a fully reclined position and simultaneously causes the legrest platform to move toward a fully extended position,
wherein the linkage includes a track assembly including a first member and a second member that is translatable along a length of the first member, and wherein the second member is rotatably coupled with a platform bracket supporting the legrest platform,
wherein the linkage includes a throw arm that is coupled to the first member for rotation relative to the first member and translation with the first member relative to the second member.

14. The furniture member of claim 13 , wherein the throw arm is rotatably coupled to an extension link that is rotatably coupled to the platform bracket.

15. The furniture member of claim 14 , wherein the base frame includes a first roller that is received in a curved track of the first member.

16. The furniture member of claim 15 , wherein the base frame includes a second roller that is received in another track fixedly attached to the seat bottom frame.

17. The furniture member of claim 16 , wherein the throw arm is rotatably coupled to first, second and third links at three different locations along a length of the throw arm.

18. The furniture member of claim 17 , wherein the seatback frame is pivotable relative to the base frame about an axis extending through an upper portion of the seatback frame.

19. The furniture member of claim 18 , wherein the linkage is powered by a single motor movable in a first direction to move the seatback from the fully upright position to the fully reclined position while simultaneously moving the legrest platform from the stowed position to the fully extended position, and wherein the single motor is movable in a second direction to move the seatback from the fully reclined position to the fully upright position while simultaneously moving the legrest platform from the fully extended position to the stowed position.

20. The furniture member of claim 19 , wherein the motor moves a slide member linearly along a guide member, the slide member is rotatably attached to the seat bottom frame, and the guide member is rotatably attached to the base frame.

21. The furniture member of claim 13 , wherein the linkage is packaged within a space having a depth dimension of about 28 to 32 inches when the linkage is in the stowed position and is configured to extend the legrest platform to about 18 to 20 inches in front of the seat bottom frame in the fully extended position, wherein the depth dimension extends parallel to a floor upon which the furniture member is situated between fore and aft ends of the furniture member.

22. The furniture member of claim 21 , wherein the base frame includes legs that are about five to six inches tall, and wherein the linkage is disposed entirely above top ends of the legs in the stowed position.

23. The furniture member of claim 22 , wherein a vertical distance between the floor and a top of the seat bottom frame is about 11 to 12 inches in the stowed position.

24. The furniture member of claim 23 , wherein the seat bottom frame

Assignees

• La Z Boy Inc

Inventors

• Lapointe Larry P
• Adams Chad E
• Rains Jason
• Bryson Jason

Classifications

• A47C1/0355 Primary

  actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms · CPC title

• A47C1/0352 Primary

  characterised by coupled seat and back-rest slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers · CPC title

• A47C7/62

  Accessories for chairs · CPC title

• A47C17/04

  {Seating furniture, e.g.} sofas, couches, settees, or the like, with movable parts {changeable to beds}; Chair beds · CPC title

• A47C7/5068

  actuated by linkages · CPC title