Seat lift mechanism for a reclining chair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9931256-B2
Application number	US-201514723057-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2015
Priority date	May 27, 2015
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A lift mechanism for a reclining chair is provided. The lift mechanism can include a lock that prevents the seat from shifting from a reclining position into a seat-lift position without first shifting into an upright, closed position. The lock is shiftable between a locked position, where the chair is prevented from shifting into a seat-lift position and an unlocked position where the chair is permitted to shift into a seat-lift position. The lift mechanism can include an activator tube that can shift the lock between the unlocked and locked positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lift mechanism for a seating unit comprising:
a lift activator assembly configured to shift a seating unit between a closed position and a seat-lift position, the lift activator assembly comprising an activator tube; and
a lock configured to shift between a locked position, where the seating unit is prevented from shifting into the seat-lift position, and an unlocked position, where the seating unit is permitted to shift into the seat-lift position, wherein the activator tube is configured to shift the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position, and wherein the lock is configured to pivot about a fixed connection point when shifting between the locked position and the unlocked position.

2. The lift mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lift activator assembly further comprises an extendable activator member configured to extend outward toward the front of the seating unit, wherein the activator tube is configured to move when the extendable activator member extends outward.

3. The lift mechanism of claim 2 , wherein, when the extendable activator member extends outward, the activator tube is configured to rotate about a fixed point upward and outward toward the front of the seating unit, thereby shifting the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position.

4. The lift mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the lift activator assembly further comprises a swing link pivotably coupled to the extendable activator member and fixedly coupled to the activator tube.

5. The lift mechanism of claim 3 , wherein, when the extendable activator member extends outward, the activator tube is configured to engage the lock to shift the lock between the locked position and the unlocked position.

6. The lift mechanism of claim 5 , wherein, when the lock is in the unlocked position, the activator tube is in contact with the lock.

7. The lift mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism further comprises a lower riser bar and at least one cross member extending out therefrom, wherein, when in the locked position, the lock engages the at least one cross member.

8. The lift mechanism of claim 7 , wherein the lift mechanism further comprises one or more side lift plates, wherein the lock is pivotably coupled to at least a portion of a side lift plate of the one or more side lift plates, wherein a biasing member coupled to the lock is configured to bias the lock in the locked position.

9. A lift mechanism for a seating unit comprising:
a lift activator assembly configured to shift a seating unit between a closed position and a seat-lift position, the lift activator assembly comprising an extendable activator member and an activator tube; and
a lock configured to pivotably shift between a locked position, where the seating unit is prevented from shifting into the seat-lift position, and an unlocked position, where the seating unit is permitted to shift into the seat-lift position, wherein the extendable activator member is configured to extend outward toward the front of the seating unit, wherein the activator tube is configured to shift the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position as the extendable activator member extends outward toward the front of the seating unit.

10. The lift mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the lift activator assembly further comprises a swing link, wherein the swing link is pivotably coupled to the extendable activator member and fixedly coupled to the activator tube.

11. The lift mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the lift mechanism further comprises a front lift tube, wherein the swing link is pivotably coupled to the front lift tube or pivotably coupled to a front lift tube bracket.

12. The lift mechanism of claim 9 , wherein, when the extendable activator member extends outward, the activator tube is configured to rotate about a fixed point upward and outward toward the front of the seating unit, thereby shifting the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position.

13. The lift mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the activator tube engages the lock to shift the lock between the locked position and the unlocked position.

14. The lift mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the lift activator assembly and the lock are configured to cooperatively prevent the seating unit from shifting from a reclined position to the seat-lift position without first shifting from the reclined position to the closed position.

15. A lift chair comprising:
a seat;
a seat back;
a lift activator assembly configured to shift a chair between a closed position and a seat-lift position, the lift activator assembly comprising an activator tube; and
a lock configured to shift between a locked position, where the seating unit is prevented from shifting into the seat-lift position, and an unlocked position, where the seating unit is permitted to shift into the seat-lift position, wherein the activator tube is configured to shift the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position, and wherein the lock is configured to pivot about a fixed connection point when shifting between the locked position and the unlocked position.

16. The lift chair of claim 15 , wherein the lift activator assembly further comprises an extendable activator member configured to extend outward toward the front of the chair, wherein, when the extendable activator member extends outward, the activator tube is configured to rotate about a fixed point upward and outward toward the front of the seating unit, thereby shifting the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position.

17. The lift chair of claim 15 , wherein the lift activator assembly and lock are configured to cooperatively prevent the seating unit from shifting from a reclined position to the seat-lift position without first shifting from the reclined position to the closed position.

Assignees

• L&P Property Man Co

Inventors

• White Nikki
• Plunk Jeffrey Kyle

Classifications

• A47C1/0345

  characterised by foot-rests actuated by lazy-tongs · CPC title

• A47C1/029

  by changing the length or the inclination of the legs · CPC title

• A61G5/14 Primary

  Standing-up or sitting-down aids · CPC title