Motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9845852-B2
Application number	US-201615075153-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2016
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit includes a motor assembly that is configured to move a linkage assembly though a series of positions that arrange the seating unit in a closed position, open position, or extended position. The motor assembly attaches directly to a footrest drive link by way of a mounting tube. In addition, the motor assembly may attach either to a base rail of the seating unit or to a rear pivot link by way of a rear mounting tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit, the apparatus comprising:
a set of base rails including a first side base rail, a second side base rail, a front base rail, and a rear base rail, the front and rear base rails being coupled between the first side base rail and the second side base rail, the set of base rails forming at least part of a support base for the seating unit;
a pair of seat plates including a first seat plate positioned above the first side base rail and a second seat plate positioned above the second side base rail;
a pair of substantially mirror-image linkage assemblies including a first linkage assembly coupling the first seat plate to the first side base rail and a second linkage assembly coupling the second seat plate to the second side base rail, the first and second linkage mechanisms each including:
a footrest-linkage assembly including a plurality of footrest linkages that pivotably adjust to extend and retract a footrest mounting bracket and that include a footrest actuating link coupled to a respective seat plate; and
a footrest drive link pivotably coupled to the footrest actuating link;

a front motor mounting tube including a first end mounting bracket and a second end mounting bracket, the first end mounting bracket being coupled to a first footrest drive link of the first linkage assembly and the second end mounting bracket being coupled to a second footrest drive link of the second linkage assembly;
a motor assembly coupled to the front motor mounting tube and to the rear base rail, the motor assembly including a drive block that slidably traverses a linear actuator, the drive block being coupled to the front motor mounting tube by a tube mounting bracket, the motor assembly including a motor housing pivotably attached to the rear base rail,
wherein the drive block includes a block body having a front terminal end facing away from the motor housing and towards a front end of the linear actuator;
wherein the drive block includes an actuator receiving space having a through-hole centerline; and
wherein the drive block includes one or more mounting tabs that include a pin-receiving aperture for receiving a fastener attaching the drive block to the tube mounting bracket, the pin-receiving aperture being positioned a distance above the through-hole centerline and in front of the front terminal end, toward the front end of the linear actuator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a centerline of the pin-receiving aperture is spaced a distance from the front terminal end, and wherein the distance is in a range of about 30 mm to about 35 mm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a distance from the centerline of the pin-receiving aperture, and wherein the distance is in a range of about 33 mm to about 37 mm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mounting tabs includes a width in a range of about 50 mm to about 65 mm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the width is about 62 mm.

6. A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit, the apparatus comprising:
a set of base rails forming at least part of a support base for the seating unit;
a pair of seat plates positioned above, and spaced apart from, the set of base rails;
a pair of substantially mirror-image linkage assemblies including a first linkage assembly coupling a first seat plate of the pair of seat plates to a first side base rail of the set of base rails, the pair of substantially mirror-image linkage assemblies including a second linkage assembly coupling a second seat plate of the pair of seat plates to a second side base rail of the set of base rails, the first and second linkage mechanisms each including:
a footrest-linkage assembly including a plurality of footrest linkages that pivotably adjust to extend and retract a footrest mounting bracket and that include a footrest actuating link coupled to a respective seat plate;
a footrest drive link pivotably coupled to the footrest actuating link; and
a rear pivot link that attaches by way of a pivot connection to a respective side base rail;

a front motor mounting tube coupled to the footrest drive links;
a motor assembly coupled to the front motor mounting tube and to a rear motor mounting tube, the motor assembly including a drive block that slidably traverses a linear actuator, the drive block being coupled to the front motor mounting tube by a front-tube mounting bracket, the motor assembly including a motor housing pivotably attached to the rear motor mounting tube,
wherein the motor housing includes a motor mounting bracket having a pin-receiving aperture for receiving a pin and coupling the motor mounting bracket to a rear-tube mounting bracket;
wherein the rear motor mounting tube includes a first end mounting bracket and a second end mounting bracket, the first end mounting bracket being coupled to a first rear pivot link of the first linkage assembly and the second end mounting bracket being coupled to a second rear pivot link of the second linkage assembly; and
wherein pivot connections attaching the rear pivot links to the side rails are spaced a distance below the pin-receiving aperture of the motor mounting bracket, the distance being in a arrange of about 30 mm to about 40 mm.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the distance is about 35 mm.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the motor housing includes a lower surface that generally faces in a direction of the set of base rails and away from a direction of the seat plates, and wherein the lower surface and a centerline of the pin-receiving aperture of the motor mounting bracket are spaced apart by a distance in a range of about 52 mm to about 58 mm.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the drive block includes one or more mounting tabs that include a pin-receiving aperture for receiving a fastener attaching the drive block to the front-tube mounting bracket, the one or more mounting tabs extending in a direction of the seat plates and away from a direction of the base rails, and wherein a centerline of the pin-receiving aperture of the one or more mounting tabs is spaced a distance from the centerline of the pin-receiving aperture of the motor mounting bracket, the distance being in a range of about 18 mm to about 22 mm.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first and second linkage mechanisms are configured to move from a closed position to a TV position and from the TV position to a reclined position, and wherein the motor housing moves a distance in a direction of the footrest linkage assembly when the first and second linkage assemblies move from the closed position to the reclined position, the distance being less than about 22 mm.

Assignees

• L&P Property Man Co

Inventors

• Lawson gregory
• Crum Michael

Classifications

• F16H25/20 Primary

  Screw mechanisms (with automatic reversal F16H25/12) · CPC title

• F16H2025/204

  Axial sliding means, i.e. for rotary support and axial guiding of nut or screw shaft · CPC title

• A47C1/0355

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