Zero-wall clearance linkage mechanism for providing additional layout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9375089-B2
Application number	US-201314062500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2013
Priority date	Aug 27, 2010
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to adjust between closed, extended, and reclined positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a seat-mounting plate mounted to a footrest assembly, a back-mounting link and a rear bellcrank both rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate, an activator bar that controls a footrest drive link, and a linear actuator for carrying out automated adjustment of the linkage assembly. In operation, a stroke in a first phase of the linear actuator generates a torque on the activator bar. The footrest drive link converts the torque into a laterally-directed force that pushes the footrest assembly into the extended position. A stroke in the second phase acts to push the activator bar forward and translate the seat-mounting plate forward at a consistent inclination angle. The forward translation causes the rear bellcrank to rotate, thereby biasing the back-mounting link rearward into the reclined position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism providing recline and footrest extension for a seating unit, the mechanism comprising:
a base plate;
a seat-mounting plate spaced apart from the base plate;
a linkage mechanism that moveably interconnects the base plate and the seat-mounting plate and that includes:
a back-mounting link that supports a backrest, wherein the back-mounting link is rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate;
a rear control link that is pivotably coupled to the back-mounting link;
a rear pivot link that is rotatably coupled at a first end directly to the base plate; and
a rear bellcrank that is rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate and is pivotably coupled to the rear control link and to a second end of the rear pivot link that opposes the first end, wherein the inter-coupling of the rear control link, the rear pivot link, and the rear bellcrank is adapted to translate the seat-mounting plate over the base plate during adjustment between a closed position, an extended position, and a reclined position.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the rear bellcrank includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a forward portion, and wherein the rear bellcrank is rotatably coupled at the lower portion thereof to the seat-mounting plate.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the rear control link includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the rear control link is pivotably coupled at the upper portion thereof to the back-mounting link, and wherein the rear control link is pivotably coupled at the lower portion thereof to the lower portion of the rear bellcrank.

4. The mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the rear pivot link includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the rear pivot link is pivotably coupled at the upper portion thereof to the upper portion of the rear bellcrank, and wherein the rear pivot link is pivotably coupled at the lower portion thereof to the base plate.

5. The mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the linkage mechanism further comprises:
a bridge link having a forward portion and a rearward portion, which is pivotably coupled to the forward portion of the rear bellcrank;
a front lift link having a rearward portion, a forward portion, and a mid portion, wherein the forward portion of the bridge link is pivotably coupled to the mid portion of the front lift link and wherein the front lift link is rotatably coupled at the rearward portion thereof to the seat-mounting plate; and
a front pivot link having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion of the front pivot link is pivotably coupled to the forward portion of the front lift link and wherein the lower portion of the front pivot link is rotatably coupled to the base plate.

6. The mechanism of claim 1 further comprising,
an activator bracket that is attachable to an activator tube;
a footrest lock link that is pivotably attached to the activator bracket; and
a footrest assembly that is attached to the footrest lock link, wherein the footrest assembly includes a front ottoman link and a rear ottoman link that are attached to the seat plate and wherein the footrest lock link is pivotably attached to the front ottoman link.

7. A mechanism providing recline and footrest extension for a seating unit, the mechanism comprising:
a base plate;
a seat-mounting plate spaced apart from the base plate;
a linkage mechanism that moveably interconnects the base plate and the seat-mounting plate and that includes:
a front bellcrank that includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a mid portion that is rotatably coupled to the seat-mounting plate;
a carrier link having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being pivotably coupled to the upper portion of the front bellcrank; and
a front pivot link having an upper portion, lower portion, and a mid portion, wherein the mid portion of the front pivot link is rotatably coupled to the lower portion of the carrier link, and wherein the lower portion of the front pivot link is pivotably coupled to the base plate.

8. 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 and a reclined position, the seating unit comprising:
a pair of base plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein the base plates are mounted to the chassis and are vertically raised above an underlying surface by a plurality of supports;
a pair of seat-mounting plates in substantially parallel-spaced relation, wherein the seat-mounting plates translatably carry the seat over the base plates; and
a pair of the 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 front bellcrank that includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a mid portion that is rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting plate;
(b) a carrier link having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being pivotably coupled to the upper portion of the front bellcrank; and
(c) a front pivot link having an upper portion, lower portion, and a mid portion, wherein the mid portion of the front pivot link is rotatably coupled to the lower portion of the carrier link, and wherein the lower portion of the front pivot link is pivotably coupled to a respective base plate;
(d) a footrest drive link that includes a front end and a back end that is pivotably coupled to the lower portion of the front bellcrank;
(e) a footrest assembly adapted to extend the at least one foot-support ottoman forward, with respect to the base plates, when adjusting from the closed position to the extended position, the footrest assemblies comprising:
(f) an ottoman link rotatably coupled to a respective seat-mounting link and pivotably coupled to the front end of the footrest drive link;
(g) a front ottoman link rotatably coupled to the respective seat-mounting link in a forward location of the rotatable coupling of the rear ottoman link;
(h) an activator bracket rotatably coupled at a first end to a respective seat-mounting plate via an activator bar; and
(i) a footrest lock link having a forward portion and a rearward portion,

wherein the rearward portion of the footrest lock link is pivotably coupled to a second end of the activator bracket, and
wherein the forward portion of the footrest lock link is pivotably coupled to the front ottoman link.

9. The seating unit of claim 8 , wherein the activator bar is adapted to receive an occupant's actuation of adjustment from the closed position to the extended position,
wherein the activator bracket is adapted to convert the actuation to a forward and upward translation of the footrest drive link, and
wherein the footrest drive link is drivably coupled to the footrest assembly such that the forward and the upward translation of the footrest drive link initiates movement of a footrest assembly from the closed position to the extended position.

10. The seating unit of claim 9 , wherein, incident to the forward and the upward translation of the footrest drive link, a downward occupant weight on the seat is converted by the front bellcrank to a forward translation of the footrest drive link, thereby facilitating movement of the footrest assembly from the closed position to the extended position.

11. The seating unit of claim 8 , further comprising a linear actuator, wherein the linear actuation includes:
a motor mechanism;
a track operably coupled to the motor mechanism, wherein the track includes a first travel section and a second travel section; and
a motor activator bl

Assignees

• L & P Property Management Co

Inventors

• Lawson Gregory M
• Lake Stephen

Classifications

• A47C1/0355 Primary

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

• A47C1/0342 Primary

  in combination with movable backrest-seat unit or back-rest · CPC title

• Y10T74/20594

  Lazy tongs · CPC title