Gliding-reclining seating unit with power actuator

• US 7,997,644 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultra-Mek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ultra-Mek Incorporated
• Inventors: Murphy, Marcus L., Hoffman, D. Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr.; Milton
• Application Number:
  US12/276,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 297/85.M, 297/68, 297/342, 297/330, 297/344.21, 297/344.24, 297/344.26
• US Class Current: 297/85.00M
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0355 actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/0255 pivotally mounted in the base frame, e.g. swings

Abstract

A gliding and reclining seating unit includes: a base unit with a first bearing surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base and substantially rearward of the seat; an extendable ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links; a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism. The actuating unit is configured to move the chair between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman are generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases.

Claims

1. A gliding and reclining seating unit, comprising:

a base unit with a first bearing surface;

a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base unit;

a generally upright backrest positioned above the base unit and substantially rearward of the seat;

an extendable ottoman;

a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links;

a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and

a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism, the actuating unit configured to move the seating unit between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman is generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases.

2. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pantographic linkage on which the ottoman is mounted, and wherein in the TV and fully reclined positions, pivots between links of the pantographic linkage form a near over-center arrangement that locks the ottoman in position.

3. The seating unit defined in claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that allows the seating unit to glide while in the upright position but prevents gliding of the seating unit while in the TV and fully reclined positions.

4. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the power actuating unit includes opposed first and second ends, and wherein the first end of the power actuating unit moves forwardly as the seating unit moves from the upright position to the TV position, and wherein the second end of the power actuating unit moves rearwardly when the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position.

5. The seating unit defined in claim 4, wherein the reclining mechanism includes a lower swing link pivotally attached with the base unit and an upper swing link pivotally attached with the lower swing link and with the backrest, and wherein the second end of the power actuating unit is attached with the upper swing link.

6. The seating unit defined in claim 4, wherein the power actuating unit includes a motor and an extendable member at the first and second ends.

7. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the seat rises in moving from the TV position to the fully reclined position.

8. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the base unit further comprises a swivel unit.

9. The seating unit defined in claim 1, wherein the reclining mechanism includes a backpost that is fixed relative to the backrest, a mounting bracket that is fixed relative to the gliding mechanism and pivotally attached to the backpost, and a seat adapter that is fixed relative to the seat and pivotally attached to the backpost.

10. A gliding and reclining seating unit, comprising:

a base unit with a first bearing surface;

a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base unit;

a generally upright backrest positioned above the base unit and substantially rearward of the seat;

an extendable ottoman;

a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links;

a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and

a linear actuator attached to the reclining mechanism, the linear actuator configured to move the seating unit between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman is generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases.

11. The seating unit defined in claim 10, wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pantographic linkage on which the ottoman is mounted, and wherein in the TV and fully reclined positions, pivots between links of the pantographic linkage form a near over-center arrangement that locks the ottoman in position.

12. The seating unit defined in claim 10, further comprising a locking mechanism that allows the seating unit to glide on the gliding mechanism while in the upright position but prevents gliding of the seating unit while in the TV and fully reclined positions.

13. The seating unit defined in claim 10, further comprising a swivel unit attached to the base unit.

14. The seating unit defined in claim 10, wherein the reclining mechanism includes a backpost that is fixed relative to the backrest, a mounting bracket that is fixed relative to the gliding mechanism and pivotally attached to the backpost, and a seat adapter that is fixed relative to the seat pivotally attached to the backpost.

15. The seating unit defined in claim 10, wherein the seat rises in moving from the TV position to the fully reclined position.

16. A gliding and reclining seating unit, comprising:

a base unit with a first bearing surface;

a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base unit;

a generally upright backrest positioned above the base unit and substantially rearward of the seat;

an extendable ottoman;

a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links;

a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and

a linear power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism, the actuating unit configured to move the seating unit between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman are generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases;

wherein the linear actuator includes opposed first and second ends, and wherein the first end of the linear actuator moves forwardly as the seating unit moves from the upright position to the TV position, and wherein the second end of the linear actuator moves rearwardly when the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position.

17. The seating unit defined in claim 16, wherein the reclining mechanism includes a lower swing link pivotally attached with the base unit and an upper swing link pivotally attached with the lower swing link and with the backrest, and wherein the second end of the linear actuator is attached with the upper swing link.

18. A gliding and reclining seating unit, comprising:

a base unit with a first bearing surface;

a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base unit;

a generally upright backrest positioned above the base unit and substantially rearward of the seat;

an extendable ottoman;

a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links;

a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and

a linear actuator attached to the reclining mechanism, the linear actuator configured to move the seating unit between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman is generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases;

wherein the reclining mechanism includes a pantographic linkage on which the ottoman is mounted, and wherein in the TV and fully reclined positions, pivots between links of the pantographic linkage form a near over-center arrangement that locks the ottoman in position; and

wherein the reclining mechanism includes a backpost that is fixed relative to the backrest, a mounting bracket that is fixed relative to the gliding mechanism and pivotally attached to the backpost, and a seat adapter that is fixed relative to the seat and pivotally attached to the backpost.

19. The seating unit defined in claim 18, wherein the linear actuator includes opposed first and second ends, and wherein the first end of the linear actuator moves forwardly as the seating unit moves from the upright position to the TV position, and wherein the second end of the linear actuator moves rearwardly when the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position.

20. The seating unit defined in claim 19, wherein the reclining mechanism includes a lower swing link pivotally attached with the base unit and an upper swing link pivotally attached with the lower swing link and with the backrest, and wherein the second end of the linear actuator is attached with the upper swing link.

21. A gliding and reclining seating unit, comprising:

a base unit with a first bearing surface;

a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base unit;

a generally upright backrest positioned above the base unit and substantially rearward of the seat;

an extendable ottoman;

a reclining mechanism attached to the seat, the backrest, the ottoman and the base unit, the reclining mechanism comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links;

a gliding mechanism attached to the base unit and the reclining mechanism, the gliding mechanism being configured to enable the seat, backrest and reclining mechanism to glide relative to the base unit along a longitudinal path responsive to a longitudinally-directed force; and

a power actuating unit attached to the reclining mechanism, the actuating unit configured to move the chair between (a) an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed, the backrest is generally vertically disposed, and the ottoman is generally vertically disposed and positioned below the seat, (b) an intermediate TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat and the backrest and the seat substantially maintain the same relationship as they have in the upright position, and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the angle between the backrest and the seat increases;

wherein the reclining mechanism includes a backpost fixed relative to the backrest and a sequencer plate pivotally interconnected with the backrest and with others of the plurality of pivotally interconnected links of the reclining mechanism, and wherein the sequencer plate rotates in a first rotative direction relative to the backrest when the seating unit moves from the upright position to the TV position, and wherein the backrest rotates relative to the sequencer plate in the first rotative direction when the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position.

22. The seating unit defined in claim 21, wherein the backrest includes one of a pin and a slot, and the sequencer plate includes the other of a pin and a slot, the pin being received in the slot.

23. The seating unit defined in claim 22, wherein the backrest includes the pin, and the sequencer plate includes the slot.