Furniture member power mechanism with selectable lift movement and zero gravity position

• US 9,010,851 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
• Inventors: LaPointe, Larry P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/031,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20150076881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 297/85.M, 297/330
• US Class Current: 297/85.M
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/032 the parts being movably-coupled seat and back-rest A47C1/035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03205 having adjustable and lockable inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03211 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0355 actuated by linkages, e.g. lazy-tongs mechanisms

Abstract

A furniture member mechanism includes a base frame. A first mechanism connected to the base frame includes a first motor connected to the base frame. A torque tube is connected to the first motor and is displaced by operation of the first motor. First and second rotation links are individually rotatably connected to the base frame and are connected to the torque tube. The first and second rotation links provide for rotation of the second mechanism to one of a rear tilt position or a forward lift position by operating the first motor displacing the torque tube.

Claims

1. A furniture member, comprising:

a base frame supporting the furniture member on a floor surface;

a first mechanism connected to the base frame including;

a first motor; and

a torque tube connected to the first motor and displaced by operation of the first motor; and

first and second rotation links individually rotatably connected to the base frame and connected to the torque tube, the first and second rotation links providing for rotation of the furniture member among a rear tilt position, an upright position, and a forward lift position by operating the first motor displacing the torque tube.

2. The furniture member of claim 1, further including a pivot tube connected to the first mechanism and connected by first and second journal bearings to the base frame.

3. The furniture member of claim 2, wherein the first journal bearing includes a first journal link and the second journal bearing includes a second journal link, the first and second journal links individually connected to one of first and second link connecting plates coupling the pivot tube to the base frame.

4. The furniture member of claim 3, wherein the first mechanism provides a lift operation when both a first fastener and a second fastener fixedly connect each of the first and second journal links to the first and second link connecting plates, preventing axial rotation of the pivot tube and forcing rotation of the first and second link connecting plates as the torque tube is displaced by operation of the first motor.

5. The furniture member of claim 3, wherein the first mechanism provides a tilt operation when a first fastener rotatably connects each of the first and second journal links to the first and second link connecting plates, permitting axial rotation and forward displacement of the pivot tube as the torque tube is displaced by operation of the first motor.

6. The furniture member of claim 3, wherein the first and second journal links are shorter than the first and second rotation links such that forward and upward displacement of the torque tube rotates the first and second journal links and forwardly displaces the pivot tube, creating a furniture member rear tilt position having the torque tube elevated above the pivot tube and a rear corner of a base member of the furniture member positioned below a front corner of the base member.

7. The furniture member of claim 1, further including:

a second mechanism supported and rotated by the first mechanism, the second mechanism having a second motor actuated to displace each of a leg rest mechanism and a seat back of the furniture member; and

a pivot tube connected to the first mechanism and connected by first and second journal bearings to the base frame.

8. The furniture member of claim 7, wherein a distance of forward displacement of the pivot tube during operation of the first motor is substantially equal to a rearward displacement of a rearmost point of the seat back connected to the base member due to rearward rotation of the furniture member during rotation to the rear tilt position such that a clearance between the rearmost point and a wall proximate to the furniture member is retained between an upright position of the furniture member and the rear tilt position of the furniture member.

9. The furniture member of claim 1, further including:

a motor mount plate fixedly connected to a rear member of the base frame; and

a clevis and clevis pin assembly rotatably connecting the first motor to the motor mount plate.

10. A furniture member, comprising:

a base frame supporting the furniture member on a floor surface;

a first mechanism rotatably connected to the base frame including;

a first motor rotatably connected to the base frame;

a torque tube connected to the first motor by an extension tube, the extension tube axially displaced by operation of the first motor; and

a pivot tube connected by side frame members to the torque tube and connected by first and second journal bearings to the base frame; and

a furniture member base member connected to the side frame members and rotated together with a second mechanism by operation of the first motor among a rear tilt position, an upright position, and a forward lift position by operation of the first motor.

11. The furniture member of claim 10, wherein the first journal bearing includes a first journal link and the second journal bearing includes a second journal link.

12. The furniture member of claim 11, wherein the first and second journal links are individually connected to one of a first and second link connecting plates rotatably connected to the base frame, thereby coupling the pivot tube to the base frame.

13. The furniture member of claim 12, wherein the first mechanism provides a rear tilt operation when a first fastener rotatably connects each of the first and second journal links to the first and second link connecting plates, permitting axial rotation and forward displacement of the pivot tube as the torque tube is displaced by operation of the first motor, a rear tilt position having the pivot tube positioned below the torque tube.

14. The furniture member of claim 12, wherein the first mechanism provides a forward lift operation when both a first fastener and a second fastener fixedly connect each of the first and second journal links to the first and second link connecting plates, preventing axial rotation of the pivot tube and forcing rotation of the first and second link connecting plates as the torque tube is displaced by operation of the first motor, a forward lift position having the pivot tube positioned above the torque tube.

15. The furniture member of claim 10, further including first and second rotation links individually rotatably connected to the base frame and connected to the torque tube, the first and second rotation links together with the first and second journal bearings permitting rotation of the second mechanism to one of the rear tilt position and the forward lift position during operation of the first motor.

16. A furniture member mechanism providing rearward tilt and forward lift operations, comprising:

a base frame supporting the furniture member on a floor surface;

a first mechanism connected to the base frame including;

a first motor movably connected to the base frame;

a torque tube connected to an extension tube displaced by operation of the first motor; and

a pivot tube connected to the first mechanism and connected by first and second journal bearings to the base frame;

a second mechanism supported and rotated by the first mechanism, the second mechanism having a second motor; and

first and second rotation links individually rotatably connected to the base frame and connected to the torque tube, the first and second rotation links providing for rotation of the second mechanism to one of a rear tilt position having the pivot tube positioned below the torque tube and a forward lift position having the pivot tube positioned above the torque tube by operation of the first motor displacing the torque tube.

17. The furniture member of claim 16, wherein the first and second journal links are individually connected to one of a first and a second link connecting plates connected to the base frame, thereby coupling the pivot tube to the base frame.

18. The furniture member of claim 17, further including a rotational fastener individually rotatably connecting the first and second link connecting plates to the base frame such that the first and a second link connecting plates are rotatable when the first and second rotation links rotate by operation of the first motor.

19. The furniture member of claim 18, wherein the first mechanism provides a forward lift operation when both a first fastener and a second fastener fixedly connect each of the first and second journal links to the first and second link connecting plates, preventing axial rotation of the pivot tube and forcing rotation of the first and second link connecting plates with respect to the rotational fasteners as the torque tube is displaced by operation of the first motor, a forward lift position created when the pivot tube is moved to a position above the torque tube.

20. The furniture member of claim 18, wherein the first mechanism provides a rear tilt operation when only a single fastener rotatably connects each of the first and second journal links to the first and second link connecting plates, the single fastener permitting axial rotation and forward displacement of the pivot tube as the torque tube is displaced during operation of the first motor, a rear tilt position created when the pivot tube is moved to a position below the torque tube.