Furniture member with adjustable seat height

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10285502-B2
Application number	US-201715710003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2017
Priority date	Sep 20, 2017
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A furniture member may include a base assembly and a seat assembly. The base assembly may include a base structure, a post, a support frame, and a height-adjustment mechanism. The post extends vertically upward from the base structure. The support frame may include a cross member and a sleeve. The sleeve may slidably and rotatably receive the post for vertical movement of the support frame relative to the base structure along a longitudinal axis of the post and for rotational movement relative to the base structure about the longitudinal axis. The height-adjustment mechanism may include a height-adjustment actuator configured to move the support frame vertically along the longitudinal axis. The cross member of the support frame may include a pair of rocker springs mounted thereon. The seat assembly may be mounted on the rocker springs and may include a seat bottom, a seatback, and armrest members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A furniture member comprising:
a base assembly including a base structure, a post, a support frame, and a height-adjustment mechanism, the post fixedly mounted on the base structure and extending vertically upward therefrom, the support frame including a cross member and a sleeve, the sleeve slidably and rotatably receiving the post for vertical movement of the support frame relative to the base structure along a longitudinal axis of the post and for rotational movement relative to the base structure about the longitudinal axis of the post, the height-adjustment mechanism including a height-adjustment actuator configured to move the support frame vertically along the longitudinal axis, the cross member of the support frame including a pair of rocker springs mounted thereon; and
a seat assembly mounted on the rocker springs and including a seat bottom, a seatback, and a seat base frame, the seat base frame including a pair of armrest members.

2. The furniture member of claim 1 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism includes a first link, a second link, and a slider block, wherein the height-adjustment actuator is attached to the base structure and the first link, wherein the first link is rotatable about a rotational axis that is fixed relative to the base structure, wherein the second link is rotatably coupled to the first link and the slider block, and wherein the slider block slidably engages the post and is disposed between the sleeve and the base structure.

3. The furniture member of claim 2 , wherein the slider block includes a pair of protrusions, wherein the sleeve includes a peg disposed angularly between the protrusions, and wherein interference between the protrusions and the peg defines a range of rotational movement of the support frame relative to the base structure.

4. The furniture member of claim 3 , wherein the slider block is rotationally fixed relative to the post.

5. The furniture member of claim 1 , further comprising a tilt mechanism including a tilt actuator attached to the base assembly and a plurality of links, the tilt mechanism moving the seat bottom, the seatback and the seat base frame relative to the base assembly between an upright position and rearward tilt position.

6. The furniture member of claim 1 , further comprising a recline actuator rotatably mounted to the seat base frame and the seat bottom, the recline actuator moving the seat bottom relative to the armrest members between a forward position and a rearward position, wherein movement of the seat bottom between the forward and rearward positions causes movement of the seatback relative to the armrest members and the seat bottom between a reclined position and a non-reclined position.

7. The furniture member of claim 1 , further comprising a legrest assembly including a legrest platform and a legrest actuator, the legrest actuator mounted to the seat bottom and movable between first and second positions to move the legrest platform relative to the seat bottom between a retracted position and an extended position.

8. The furniture member of claim 7 , wherein the entire legrest assembly is movable with the support frame relative to the base structure along the longitudinal axis of the post.

9. The furniture member of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tilt mechanism including a tilt actuator attached to the base assembly and a plurality of links, the tilt mechanism moving the seat bottom, the seatback and the seat base frame relative to the base assembly between an upright position and rearward tilt position, wherein the height-adjustment actuator and the tilt actuator are operable independently of each other;
a recline actuator rotatably mounted to the seat base frame and the seat bottom, the recline actuator moving the seat bottom relative to the armrest members between a forward position and a rearward position, wherein movement of the seat bottom between the forward and rearward positions causes movement of the seatback relative to the armrest members and the seat bottom between a reclined position and a non-reclined position, wherein the height-adjustment actuator, the recline actuator and the tilt actuator are operable independently of each other; and
a legrest assembly including a legrest platform and a legrest actuator, the legrest actuator mounted to the seat bottom and movable between first and second positions to move the legrest platform relative to the seat bottom between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the legrest actuator is operable independently of the height-adjustment actuator, the tilt actuator and the recline actuator.

10. The furniture member of claim 1 , further comprising a cover fixed to the base structure and cooperating with the base structure to at least partially enclose the height-adjustment actuator.

11. The furniture member of claim 1 , wherein the rocker springs are U-shaped members.

12. A furniture member comprising:
a base assembly including a base structure, a post, a support frame, and a height-adjustment mechanism, the post fixedly mounted on the base structure and extending vertically upward therefrom, the support frame including a cross member and a sleeve, the sleeve slidably receiving the post for vertical movement of the support frame relative to the base structure along a longitudinal axis of the post, the cross member including an aperture through which the post extends, the height-adjustment mechanism including a height-adjustment actuator mounted to the base structure and configured to move the sleeve and the support frame vertically along the longitudinal axis; and
a seat assembly mounted on the cross member and movable with the cross member relative to the base structure vertically along the longitudinal axis of the post, the seat assembly including a seat bottom, a seatback, and a seat base frame, the seat base frame including a pair of armrest members.

13. The furniture member of claim 12 , wherein the height-adjustment mechanism includes a first link, a second link, and a slider block, wherein the height-adjustment actuator is attached to the first link, wherein the first link is rotatable about a rotational axis that is fixed relative to the base structure, wherein the second link is rotatably coupled to the first link and the slider block, and wherein the slider block slidably engages the post and is disposed between the sleeve and the base structure.

14. The furniture member of claim 13 , wherein the slider block includes a pair of protrusions, wherein the sleeve includes a peg disposed angularly between the protrusions, and wherein interference between the protrusions and the peg defines a range of rotational movement of the support frame relative to the base structure.

15. The furniture member of claim 14 , wherein the slider block is rotationally fixed relative to the post.

16. The furniture member of claim 12 , further comprising a legrest assembly including a legrest platform and a legrest actuator, the legrest actuator mounted to the seat bottom and movable between first and second positions to move the legrest platform relative to the seat bottom between a retracted position and an extended position.

17. The furniture member of claim 16 , wherein the entire legrest assembly is movable with the support frame relative to the base structure along the longitudinal axis of the post.

18. The furniture member of claim 17 , further comprising a tilt mechanism including a tilt actuator attached to the base assembly and a plurality of links, the tilt mechanism moving the seat bottom, t

Assignees

• La Z Boy Inc

Inventors

• Lapointe Larry P
• Adams Chad E
• Stotz Gerald G

Classifications

• A47C7/5068

  actuated by linkages · CPC title

• A47C1/03294

  slidingly movable in the base frame, e.g. by rollers · CPC title

• A47C1/023

  the parts being horizontally-adjustable seats · CPC title

• A47C7/506

  of adjustable type · CPC title

• A47C7/24

  Upholstered seats (A47C7/18 takes precedence) · CPC title