Adjustable foundation for a seating unit
First Claim
1. An adjustable foundation of a seating unit having a base structure for suspending the adjustable foundation above an underlying surface, the adjustable foundation comprising:
- extensible supports each having a first end and a second end; and
a frame assembly for controlling tension of the extensible supports, the frame assembly comprising;
(a) a forward lateral member that is fixedly attached directly to the first end of each of the extensible supports;
(b) a rearward lateral member that is in a substantial parallel-spaced relationship with the forward lateral member;
(c) a drive bar that is rotatably coupled to the rearward lateral member and directly secures the second end of each of the extensible supports such that the extensible supports are directly coupled to the drive bar at a distance from the rearward lateral member,wherein the extensible supports span directly between the forward lateral member and the drive bar, and wherein rotation of the drive bar comprises rotation about a central longitudinal axis of the drive bar and direct tensioning applied to of each of the extensible supports directly coupled to the drive bar,wherein an amount of tensioning applied to each of the extensible supports corresponds to an amount of rotation about the central longitudinal axis, wherein the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar is substantially parallel with the rearward lateral member, wherein rotation of the drive bar about the central longitudinal axis in a counterclockwise direction of movement towards the rearward lateral member escalates longitudinal tension retained by the extensible supports to increase a desired level of firmness of the adjustable foundation based at least in part on direct contact between each of the extensible supports and the drive bar, and further wherein rotation of the drive bar about the central longitudinal axis in a clockwise direction of movement away from the rearward lateral member relaxes longitudinal tension retained by the extensible supports to decrease a desired level of firmness of the adjustable foundation based at least in part on direct contact between each of the extensible supports and the drive bar,wherein rotation about the central longitudinal axis comprises wrapping each of the extensible supports around an outer circumference of the drive bar; and
(d) a seat supported by the extensible supports, wherein the seat is configured to accommodate a posterior of an occupant of the seating unit, wherein rotation about the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar corresponds to an indication provided by the occupant of the desired level of firmness,wherein the drive bar comprises a nonuniform diameter along the central longitudinal axis such that adjustment of a rotational position of the drive bar increases or decreases a longitudinal tension applied to at least two of the extensible supports at an uneven rate,wherein the nonuniform diameter of the drive bar comprises a nonuniform cam, wherein an amount of tension of one or more of the extensible supports changes at a first rate of adjustment and an amount of tension of one or more of the extensible supports changes at a second rate of adjustment different than the first rate of adjustment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seating unit that includes an adjustable foundation, a torque-inducing mechanism, and a base structure for interconnecting a backrest and a seat is provided. The adjustable foundation provides adjustable support for, and is controlled by, an occupant of the seating unit. The adjustable foundation includes extensible supports that each have a first and second end, and a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a stationary member that is fixedly attached to the first ends and a drive bar that is configured to secure the second ends of the extensible supports such that longitudinal tension is generated upon rotating the drive bar with respect to the stationary member. The torque-inducing mechanism adjusts an angular position of the drive bar. In this capacity, the drive bar is configured to convert torque applied by the torque-inducing mechanism into a directional force that controls the longitudinal tension of the extensible supports.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An adjustable foundation of a seating unit having a base structure for suspending the adjustable foundation above an underlying surface, the adjustable foundation comprising:
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extensible supports each having a first end and a second end; and a frame assembly for controlling tension of the extensible supports, the frame assembly comprising; (a) a forward lateral member that is fixedly attached directly to the first end of each of the extensible supports; (b) a rearward lateral member that is in a substantial parallel-spaced relationship with the forward lateral member; (c) a drive bar that is rotatably coupled to the rearward lateral member and directly secures the second end of each of the extensible supports such that the extensible supports are directly coupled to the drive bar at a distance from the rearward lateral member, wherein the extensible supports span directly between the forward lateral member and the drive bar, and wherein rotation of the drive bar comprises rotation about a central longitudinal axis of the drive bar and direct tensioning applied to of each of the extensible supports directly coupled to the drive bar, wherein an amount of tensioning applied to each of the extensible supports corresponds to an amount of rotation about the central longitudinal axis, wherein the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar is substantially parallel with the rearward lateral member, wherein rotation of the drive bar about the central longitudinal axis in a counterclockwise direction of movement towards the rearward lateral member escalates longitudinal tension retained by the extensible supports to increase a desired level of firmness of the adjustable foundation based at least in part on direct contact between each of the extensible supports and the drive bar, and further wherein rotation of the drive bar about the central longitudinal axis in a clockwise direction of movement away from the rearward lateral member relaxes longitudinal tension retained by the extensible supports to decrease a desired level of firmness of the adjustable foundation based at least in part on direct contact between each of the extensible supports and the drive bar, wherein rotation about the central longitudinal axis comprises wrapping each of the extensible supports around an outer circumference of the drive bar; and (d) a seat supported by the extensible supports, wherein the seat is configured to accommodate a posterior of an occupant of the seating unit, wherein rotation about the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar corresponds to an indication provided by the occupant of the desired level of firmness, wherein the drive bar comprises a nonuniform diameter along the central longitudinal axis such that adjustment of a rotational position of the drive bar increases or decreases a longitudinal tension applied to at least two of the extensible supports at an uneven rate, wherein the nonuniform diameter of the drive bar comprises a nonuniform cam, wherein an amount of tension of one or more of the extensible supports changes at a first rate of adjustment and an amount of tension of one or more of the extensible supports changes at a second rate of adjustment different than the first rate of adjustment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16)
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14. An adjustable foundation of a seating unit having a base structure for suspending the adjustable foundation above an underlying surface, the adjustable foundation comprising:
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extensible supports each having a first end and a second end; and a frame assembly for controlling tension of the extensible supports, the frame assembly comprising; (a) a forward lateral member that is fixedly attached directly to the first end of each of the extensible supports; (b) a rearward lateral member that is in a substantial parallel-spaced relationship with the forward lateral member; (c) a drive bar that is rotatably coupled to the rearward lateral member and directly secures the second end of each of the extensible supports such that the extensible supports are directly coupled to the drive bar at a distance from the rearward lateral member, wherein the drive bar comprises a nonuniform cam shape that changes along a central longitudinal axis of the drive bar, wherein the extensible supports span directly between the forward lateral member and the drive bar, and wherein rotation of the drive bar comprises rotation about the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar and direct tensioning applied to of each of the extensible supports directly coupled to the drive bar, wherein an amount of tensioning applied to each of the extensible supports corresponds to an amount of rotation about the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar and is based on a position where each extensible support is secured along the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar relative to at least a portion of the nonuniform cam shape, such that a rate of increasing or decreasing in longitudinal tension is uneven between at least two of the extensible supports during adjustment of the drive bar based on the nonuniform cam shape of the drive bar where each of the at least two extensible supports is coupled to the drive bar, wherein adjustment of a first extensible support associated with a first portion of the nonuniform cam shape is different than a rate of adjustment of a second extensible support associated with a second portion of the nonuniform cam shape, wherein the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar is substantially parallel with the rearward lateral member, wherein rotation of the drive bar about the central longitudinal axis in a counterclockwise direction of movement towards the rearward lateral member escalates longitudinal tension retained by the extensible supports to increase a desired level of firmness of the adjustable foundation based at least in part on direct contact between each of the extensible supports and the drive bar, and further wherein rotation of the drive bar about the central longitudinal axis in a clockwise direction of movement away from the rearward lateral member relaxes longitudinal tension retained by the extensible supports to decrease a desired level of firmness of the adjustable foundation based at least in part on direct contact between each of the extensible supports and the drive bar; and (d) a seat supported by the extensible supports, wherein the seat is configured to accommodate a posterior of an occupant of the seating unit, wherein rotation about the central longitudinal axis of the drive bar corresponds to an indication provided by the occupant of the desired level of firmness. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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17. An adjustable foundation of a seating unit having a base structure for suspending the adjustable foundation above an underlying surface, the adjustable foundation comprising:
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a plurality of extensible supports each having a first end and a second end; and a frame assembly for controlling tension of the plurality of extensible supports, the frame assembly comprising; (a) a forward lateral member that is fixedly attached directly to the first end of each of the plurality of extensible supports; (b) a rearward lateral member that is in a substantial parallel-spaced relationship with the forward lateral member; (c) a drive bar that is rotatably coupled to the rearward lateral member and directly secures the second end of each of the plurality of extensible supports such that longitudinal tension is restrained thereby, said drive bar comprising a nonuniform cam profile that changes along a length of a rotation axis of the drive bar, wherein an amount of longitudinal tensioning applied to each of the plurality of extensible supports in response to rotation of the drive bar corresponds to a position where each of the plurality of extensible supports is secured along the nonuniform cam profile of the drive bar. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification