Pedestal glider and recliner chair and mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11229290-B1
Application number	US-202016932965-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2020
Priority date	Jul 20, 2020
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

Abstract

A seating unit is provided with a glider linkage and a powered reclining mechanism, supported on a pedestal base. The glider linkage allows the seating unit to move to and fro in a gliding motion when the seating unit is in the closed position. The powered reclining mechanism allows independent operation of the footrest and back recline, utilizing a two-motor design. As the seating unit moves from the closed position to the TV position, with the footrest extended, a locking linkage prevents the glider linkage from moving. Additionally, the locking of the glider linkage provides at least a portion of the change in pitch of the seat. The recliner linkage provides the remaining portion of the change in pitch of the seat as the mechanism moves from the closed to the TV position. Because the back recline is independent from the footrest extension, the back can be at least partially reclined even when the seating unit is in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A linkage mechanism for a gliding, reclining seating unit having at least a seat, a back and an ottoman, the linkage mechanism comprising:
a base;
a pedestal supported on the base and extending upwardly from the base;
a base plate supported on a column above the base;
a glide linkage supported on the base plate;
a recliner linkage supported on the glide linkage;
a first motor coupled to the recliner linkage configured to move the gliding, reclining seating unit to and from a closed position with the ottoman stowed, and a TV position with the ottoman extended; and
a second motor coupled to the recliner linkage configured to move the back of the gliding, reclining seating unit between an upright position and a reclined position.

2. The linkage mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are independently operable.

3. The linkage mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the glide linkage comprises:
a glide bracket coupled to the base plate;
a front swing link having a first end pivotally coupled to the glide bracket and a second end pivotally coupled to the recliner linkage;
a rear swing link having a first end pivotally coupled to the glide bracket and a second end pivotally coupled to the recliner linkage;
the front swing link and the rear swing link carry the recliner linkage and allow the recliner linkage to swing forward and rearward with respect to the base when the seating unit is in a closed position.

4. The linkage mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the recliner linkage comprises:
a carrier link pivotally coupled to the second end of the front swing link and the second end of the rear swing link, the carrier link supporting a remainder of the recliner linkage and moveable forward and rearward on the glide linkage; and
wherein the carrier link has a top surface with at least a front notch and a rear notch formed therein;
wherein the rear swing link includes a stop protruding therefrom and located between the first end of the rear swing link and the second end of the rear swing link; and
wherein the stop on the rear swing link contacts the front notch to define a rearward-most glide position and wherein the stop on the rear swing link contacts the rear notch to define a forward-most glide position.

5. The linkage mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the recliner linkage further comprises:
a seat plate;
a front pivot link pivotally coupled on a first end to the seat plate and on a second end to the carrier link; and
a rear pivot link having a first end and a second end, the rear pivot link pivotally coupled on one end to the seat plate and pivotally coupled to the carrier link at a point between the first end of the rear pivot link and the second end of the rear pivot link;
wherein the seat plate is pivotally supported above the carrier link by the front pivot link and the rear pivot link; and
wherein a seat pitch of the seat plate increases as the seating unit moves from the closed position to the TV position, controlled at least in part by the front pivot link and the rear pivot link.

6. The linkage mechanism of claim 5 , further comprising:
a rear blocker pivotally coupled to the carrier link;
a blocker drive link pivotally coupled on a first end to the second end of the rear pivot link and on a second end to the rear blocker link
a front blocker pivotally coupled to the carrier link; and
a blocker control link pivotally coupled between the rear blocker and the front blocker to drive counter-rotational movement of the front blocker as the rear blocker rotates;
wherein the rear blocker and the front blocker are rotated as the seating unit moves from the closed position to the TV position into a position capturing the stop on the rear swing link to prevent the rear swing link from further movement.

7. The linkage mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the seat pitch increases as the seating unit moves to a rearward glide position and wherein the stop on the rear swing link is captured by the front blocker and the rear blocker in the TV position when the seating unit is at least partially in a rearward glide position, such that the seat pitch increases from the closed position to the position when the stop on the rear swing link is captured by the front blocker and the rear blocker.

8. The linkage mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the carrier link has a stop tab projecting downwardly and outwardly therefrom, the stop tab contacting the front blocker when the seating unit is in a closed position, preventing the front blocker from rotating beyond the stop tab.

9. A gliding, reclining seating unit having at least a seat, a back and an ottoman, the gliding, reclining seating unit comprising:
a base;
a pedestal supported on the base and extending upwardly from the base;
a base plate supported on a column above the base;
a glide linkage supported on the base plate;
a recliner linkage supported on the glide linkage to allow the recliner linkage to move forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the glide linkage;
at least a first motor coupled to the recliner linkage configured to move the gliding, reclining seating unit to and from a closed position with the ottoman stowed, and a TV position with the ottoman extended; and
a second motor coupled to the recliner linkage configured to move the back of the seating unit between an upright position and a reclined position.

10. The seating unit of claim 9 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are independently operable.

11. The seating unit of claim 10 , further comprising:
a glide bracket coupled to the base plate;
a front swing link having a first end pivotally coupled to the glide bracket and a second end pivotally coupled to the recliner linkage;
a rear swing link having a first end pivotally coupled to the glide bracket and a second end pivotally coupled to the recliner linkage;
wherein the front swing link and the rear swing link carry the recliner linkage and allow the recliner linkage to swing forward and rearward with respect to the glide bracket when the seating unit is in a closed position.

12. The seating unit of claim 11 , further comprising:
a carrier link pivotally coupled to the second end of the front swing link and the second end of the rear swing link, the carrier link supporting a remainder of the recliner linkage and moveable forward and rearward on the glide linkage; and
wherein the carrier link has a top surface with at least a front notch and a rear notch formed therein;
wherein the rear swing link includes a stop protruding therefrom and located between the first end of the rear swing link and the second end of the rear swing link; and
wherein the stop on the rear swing link contacts the front notch to define a rearward-most glide position and wherein the stop on the rear swing link contacts the rear notch to define a forward-most glide position.

13. The seating unit of claim 12 , further comprising:
a seat plate;
a front pivot link pivotally coupled on a first end to the seat plate and on a second end to the carrier link; and
a rear pivot link having a first end and a second end, the rear pivot link pivotally coupled on one end to the seat plate and pivotally coupled to the carrier link at a point between the first end of the rear pivot link and the second end of the rear pivot link;
wherein the seat plate is pivotally supported above the carrier link by the front pivot link and the rear pivot link; and
wherein a seat pitch of the seat plate increases as the seating unit moves from the closed position to the TV position, controlled at least in part by the front pivot link and the rear pivot link.

Assignees

• L&P Property Man Co
• Leggett & Platt

Inventors

• Bryant Jason Allan

Classifications

• A47C1/03211

  by electric motors · CPC title

• A47C3/0255

  pivotally mounted in the base frame, e.g. swings · CPC title

• A47C7/506

  of adjustable type · CPC title

• A47C7/462

  adjustable by mechanical means · CPC title

• A47C1/02 Primary

  Reclining or easy chairs · CPC title