Disengagement and reengagement mechanism on motorized seating unit for selective manual control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11517109-B2
Application number	US-202016834321-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2020
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit includes a motor assembly that is configured to move a pair of linkage mechanisms though a series of positions that arrange the seating unit in a closed position, open position, or extended position. The motor assembly is selectively and releasably coupled to the linkage mechanisms, to allow the motor assembly to be de-coupled from the linkage mechanisms to allow the seating unit to be manually closed by a user.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit, the apparatus comprising:
a pair of substantially mirror-image linkage mechanisms having a plurality of links controlling movement of an ottoman;
a stationary rail coupled between the pair of linkage mechanisms;
a motor tube coupled to at least one of the plurality of links of each linkage mechanism;
a motor assembly comprising a body coupled to the stationary rail and a drive block slidably traversing the body; and
a means for selectively and releasably coupling the drive block to the motor tube.

2. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively and releasably coupling the drive block to the motor tube and the stationary rail comprises a back plate coupled to the motor tube, and a pair of solenoid brackets selectively and releasably coupled to the motor tube and the drive block.

3. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the drive block comprises a pair of mounting tabs, each mounting tab comprising an aperture;
wherein the pair of solenoid brackets actuate a pair of pins to be received by the aperture of each mounting tab when the solenoid bracket is engaged; and
further wherein the pair of solenoid brackets selectively and releasably couple the motor tube to the drive block by actuating the pair of pins to be received by the aperture in response to an input.

4. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a controller, wherein the input is received by the controller.

5. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the back plate comprises a pair of adjustment slots extending vertically on the back plate to receive and couple the pair of solenoid brackets at a position to selectively and releasably couple the motor tube to the drive block.

6. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the back plate comprises an opening to receive and support the body.

7. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly comprises a word gear and rack arrangement to slidably move the drive block across the body.

8. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for selectively and releasably coupling the drive block to the motor tube and the stationary rail comprises at least one of a friction clutch, a sprag clutch, a spring loaded clutch, a magnetic clutch, a residual magnetic clutch, or a friction clutch.

9. A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit, the apparatus comprising:
a pair of substantially mirror-image linkage mechanisms having a plurality of links controlling movement of an ottoman;
a stationary rail coupled between the pair of linkage mechanisms;
a motor tube coupled to at least one of the plurality of links of each linkage mechanism;
a motor assembly comprising a body coupled to the stationary rail and a drive block slidably traversing the body, the drive block comprising a pair of mounting tabs, each mounting tab of the pair of mounting tabs comprising an aperture;
a back plate coupled to the motor tube comprising a pair of adjustment slots; and
a pair of solenoid brackets coupled to the back plate by the pair of adjustment slots, wherein engaging the pair of solenoid brackets actuates a pair of pins receivable by the aperture of each mounting tab to selectively and releasably couple the motor tube to the drive block.

10. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pair of adjustment slots couple the pair of solenoid brackets at a position to actuate the pair of pins to be receivable by the aperture.

11. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a controller for receiving an input, and wherein the input received by the controller engages the pair of solenoid brackets to actuate the pair of pins.

12. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the motor assembly comprises a motor operable to move the drive block along the body.

13. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the pair of adjustment slots extend vertically on the back plate;
where the pair of solenoid brackets comprise mounting holes aligned with each of the pair of adjustment slots; and
wherein the solenoid bracket is coupled to the back plate by an attaching mechanism using the holes and the pair of adjustment slots to vertically adjust the position of the solenoid bracket on the back plate.

14. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the back plate further comprises an opening to receive the body.

15. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the back plate is slidably moveable along the body moving the motor tube and the pair of mirror-image linkage mechanisms controlling movement of the ottoman.

16. A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit, the apparatus comprising:
a pair of substantially mirror-image linkage mechanisms having a plurality of links controlling movement of an ottoman, a backrest, and a seat;
a rear base rail coupled between the pair of linkage mechanisms;
a motor tube coupled to at least one of the plurality of links of each linkage mechanism;
a motor assembly comprising a body coupled to the rear base rail, a drive block, a pair of mounting tabs wherein each mounting tab of the pair of mounting tabs comprises an aperture, and a motor coupled to the drive block to slidably move the drive block along the body;
a back plate coupled to the motor tube comprising an opening to receive the body and slidably move the back plate along the body moving the motor tube and the pair of mirror-image linkage mechanisms controlling movement of the seat, the ottoman, and the back;
a pair of solenoid brackets coupled to the back plate, wherein engaging the pair of solenoid brackets actuates a pair of pins to be received by the aperture of each mounting tab; and
a controller to receive an input and wherein the input received engages the pair of solenoid brackets to actuate the pair of pins from a selectively coupled state to a releasably coupled state for the motor tube to the drive block.

17. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the selectively coupled state comprises engaging the pair of solenoid brackets to couple the motor tube to the drive block by actuating the pair of pins to be received by the aperture of each mounting tab.

18. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the selectively coupled state enables movement of the drive block along the body to move the motor tube and actuate the pair of substantially mirror-image linkage mechanisms.

19. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the releasably coupled state comprises disengaging the pair of solenoid brackets to move the motor tube free from the drive block by disengaging the pair of pins to retract from the aperture of each mounting tab.

20. The motorized positioning apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the releasably coupled state enables movement of the motor tube independent of the drive block to actuate the pair of substantially mirror-image linkage mechanisms.

Assignees

• L&P Property Man Co

Inventors

• Browning Caleb
• Davis Ronald D
• Ford Randy
• Gopalakrishnan Vino
• Purser David

Classifications

• A47C1/0325

  by means of clamps or friction locking members · CPC title

• A47C1/0355 Primary

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

• A47C1/03211 Primary

  by electric motors · CPC title