Seating unit with retractable footrest

• US 7,108,329 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reinhold Industries, Inc. (Heico Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Robert Clough
• Inventors: Clough, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US11/280,042
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 297/423.1, 297/423.15, 297/423.14, 297/423.19, 297/423.26, 244/122.R
• US Class Current: 297/423.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/063 with adjustment systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0643 Adjustable foot or leg rests

Abstract

An extendable, retractable footrest assembly for use in combination with a seat having a backrest portion and a seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface. The footrest assembly is disposed proximate the lower surface of the seat portion and is readily movable from a first stowed position beneath upper surface of the seat portion to a second deployed position.

The foot support assembly includes a subassembly that comprises a pair of side support members that support a pivotally movable footrest that is movable from a stowed position between the side support members to a deployed position wherein it extends forwardly of the side support members.

Claims

1. In combination with a seat having a backrest portion and a seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, an extendable, retractable footrest assembly disposed proximate the lower surface of the seat portion and being movable from a first stowed position to a second deployed position, said footrest assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of transversely spaced-apart side members movable relative to the seat portion between a first position and a second position;

(b) a foot support connected to said spaced-apart side members; and

(c) guide means connected to the seat and operably associated with said spaced-apart side members for guiding travel of said side members between said first and second positions, said guide means comprising first and second transversely spaced-apart rollers connected to said seat for rollable engagement with said side members to guide the travel thereof between said first and second positions.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which said foot support is pivotally interconnected with said side members for movement between a stowed position intermediate said side members and an extended position.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which each of said side members includes an elongated portion and a stub portion pivotally interconnected with said elongated portion.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 in which said stub portion includes a stop member for engagement with a housing of said roller assembly to maintain said stub portion interiorly of said housing when said footrest assembly is in the deployed position.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 in which each said roller assembly includes a second pair of rollers rotatably mounted within said housing and transversely spaced from said first pair of rollers.

6. In combination with a seat having a backrest portion and a seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, an extendable, retractable footrest assembly disposed proximate the lower surface of the seat portion and being movable from a first stowed position to a second deployed position, said footrest assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of transversely spaced-apart side members movable relative to the seat portion between a first position and a second position;

(b) a foot support connected to said spaced-apart side members; and

(c) guide means connected to the seat and operably associated with said spaced-apart side members for guiding travel of said side members between said first and second positions, said guide means comprise first and second transversely spaced-apart roller assemblies connected to said seat, each said roller assembly comprising;

(i) a housing having an opening for telescopically receiving a selected one of said side members; and

(ii) a first pair of rollers rotatably mounted within said housing for engagement with said selected one of said side members.

7. An aircraft passenger seating unit comprising:

(a) a backrest portion;

(b) a seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface; and

(c) an extendable, retractable footrest assembly disposed proximate said lower surface of said seat portion, said footrest assembly being movable relative to said seat portion from a first stowed position to a second deployed position, said footrest assembly comprising;

(i) a pair of transversely spaced-apart side members movable relative to the seat portion between a first position and a second position;

(ii) a foot support pivotally connected to said spaced-apart side members for movement between a stowed position intermediate said side members and an extended position; and

(iii) guide means connected to the seat and operably associated with said spaced-apart side members for guiding travel of said side members between said first and second positions, said guide means comprising first and second transversely spaced rollers connected to said seat for engagement with said side members.

8. An aircraft passenger seating unit comprising:

(a) a backrest portion;

(b) a seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface; and

(c) an extendable, retractable footrest assembly disposed proximate said lower surface of said seat portion, said footrest assembly being movable relative to said seat portion from a first stowed position to a second deployed position, said footrest assembly comprising;

(i) a pair of transversely spaced-apart side members movable relative to the seat portion between a first position and a second position, each of said side members having an elongated portion and a stub portion pivotally interconnected with said elongated portion;

(ii) a foot support pivotally connected to said spaced-apart side members for movement between a stowed position intermediate said side members and an extended position; and

(iii) guide means connected to the seat portion and operably associated with said spaced-apart side members for guiding travel of said side members between said first and second positions, said guide means comprising first and second transversely spaced-apart or roller assemblies connected to said seat portion, each said roller assembly comprising;

a. a housing having an opening for telescopically receiving a selected one of said side members; and

b. first and second transversely spaced-apart rollers rotatably mounted within said housing for engagement with said selected one of said side members.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 in which said seating unit portion of said aircraft passenger seat has a front and a back and in which each of said housings of said guide means is connected to said seat portion proximate said back thereof.

10. The combination as defined in claim 8 in which each of said side members includes an elongated portion and a stub portion pivotally interconnected with said elongated portion.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 in which said stub portion includes a stop member for engagement with said housing of said roller assembly to maintain said stub portion interiorly of said housing when said footrest assembly is in the deployed position.

12. An aircraft passenger seating unit comprising:

(a) a backrest portion;

(b) a seat portion having an upper surface and a lower surface; and

(c) a footrest assembly disposed proximate said lower surface of said seat portion, said footrest assembly being movable relative to said seat portion from a first position to a second position, said footrest assembly comprising;

(i) a first subassembly comprising a pair of transversely spaced-apart first side members movable relative to the seat portion between a first position and a second position;

(ii) a second subassembly operably associated with said first subassembly, comprising;

a. a pair of transversely spaced-apart second side members movable relative to the seat portion between a first position and a second position, each of said second side members having first and second extremities, said first extremity thereof being pivotally connected to said transversely spaced-apart first side members;

b. a foot support pivotally connected to said spaced-apart second side members for movement between a stowed position intermediate said second side members and an extended position; and

(iii) guide means connected to the seat and operably associated with said second side members for guiding travel thereof between said first and second positions, said guide means comprising first and second transversely spaced-apart roller assemblies connected to said seat.

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 each said roller assembly comprises:

(a) a housing having an opening for telescopically receiving a selected one of said side members; and

(b) first and second transversely spaced-apart rollers rotatably mounted within said housing for engagement with said selected one of said side members.

14. The combination as defined in claim 13 in which said aircraft passenger seating unit has a front and a back and in which each of said housings of said guide means is connected to said seat portion proximate said back thereof.

15. The combination as defined in claim 14 in which each of said first pair of transversely spaced-apart first side members includes a stop member for engagement with said housing of said roller assembly to maintain said first side members interiorly of said housing when said footrest assembly is in the second position.