Mechanism and chair for powered combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion

• US 8,608,240 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
• Inventors: Adams, Chad E., Marshall, Richard E., Cole, II, Eugene, LaPointe, Larry P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US13/229,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20130062914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 297/9, 297/88, 297/89, 297/90, 297/916
• US Class Current: 297/69
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/0242 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/506 of adjustable type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/5068 actuated by linkages

Abstract

A furniture member mechanism includes a first actuator device electrically operated to displace first and second seat back actuation links connected to and operating to rotate a seat back member between upright and fully reclined positions. A pantograph linkage set connected to a leg rest member is at least partially supported in an extended position by rotational contact with a support rod. A second actuator device identical to the first actuator device is electrically operated to axially rotate a drive rod connected to a drive link. The drive link is connected to and displaces the pantograph linkage set between the stowed and extended positions. A swing lever rotatably connected to the support rod is rotated during operation of the second actuator device to extend the pantograph linkage set. The swing lever in a fully rotated position displaces the support rod creating a furniture member tilt position.

Claims

1. A furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion, comprising:

a first actuator device connected to and electrically operated to displace a seat back member between an upright position and a fully reclined position; and

a second actuator device connected to and electrically operated to displace a leg rest member between a stowed and a fully extended position;

a drive rod axially rotated by the second actuation device to extend or retract the leg rest member;

a swing connection tube freely rotatably connected to the drive rod such that axial rotation of the drive rod does not rotate the swing connection tube;

first and second seat back actuation links connected to the swing connection tube, the first and second seat back actuation links connected to the seat back member such that displacement of the first and second seat back actuation links by rotation of the swing connection tube rotates the seat back member; and

the mechanism selectively operated either having one of the first and second actuator devices energized while the other one of the first and second actuator devices is de-energized, or having both the first and second actuator devices energized simultaneously.

2. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 1, wherein the drive rod is connected to the second actuation device to extend or retract the leg rest member, wherein operation of the first actuation device does not axially rotate the drive rod.

5. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 1, further including:

an actuator extension shaft connected to and axially displaced by operation of the second actuator device;

a drive toggle connector connected to the actuator extension shaft having an extension rod;

a support rod connected to a furniture frame assembly; and

a swing lever rotatably connected to the support rod and freely displaceable on the extension rod.

6. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 5, further including a tilt swing lever rotatably connected to a base member of the furniture member and rotatably connected to the swing lever, wherein direct contact by the drive toggle connector and the swing lever causes opposite rotations of the swing lever and the tilt swing lever until substantial co-linear alignment of the tilt swing lever and the swing lever displace the support rod thereby rotating the furniture member frame assembly to a tilt position.

7. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 6, wherein extension of the leg rest member and rotation of the furniture member frame assembly to the tilt position occur simultaneously during operation of the second actuator device.

8. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 1, further including:

first and second seat back actuation links connected to the first actuator device; and

first and second mount plates individually connected to one of the first and second seat back actuation links, the first mount plate connected to a lateral drive member operating to rotate the seat back member.

9. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 1, further including:

the swing connection tube defining a substantially U-shape having first and second tube arms each rotatably connected to one of the first or second seat back actuation links.

10. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 1, further including:

a first actuator connection bracket rotatably connecting the first actuator to the swing connection tube.

11. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 1, further including:

a first biasing member connecting a first leg rest drive link to a first swing link; and

a second biasing member connecting a second leg rest drive link to a second swing link;

wherein the first and second swing links are connected to the leg rest member and contact of the leg rest member with an object during return of the leg rest member from the fully extended to the stowed position creates a gap between the first and second swing links and a contact flange of the first and second leg rest drive links and extension of the first and second biasing members, a biasing force of the first and second biasing members thereafter acting to return the first and second swing links into contact with the contact flanges of the first and second leg rest drive links following removal of the object.

12. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 1, wherein the first and second actuator devices each include a 24 volt DC current motor and an actuator drive member operating to transfer motor rotation to a linear drive direction.

3. A furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion, comprising:

a first actuator device connected to and electrically operated to displace a seat back member between an upright position and a fully reclined position;

a second actuator device connected to and electrically operated to displace a leg rest member between a stowed and a fully extended position;

the mechanism selectively operated either having one of the first and second actuator devices energized while the other one of the first and second actuator devices is de-energized, or having both the first and second actuator devices energized simultaneously;

a drive rod connected to and axially rotated by operation of the second actuation device to extend or retract the leg rest member, wherein operation of the first actuation device does not axially rotate the drive rod;

first and second leg rest drive links connected to the drive rod and co-rotated by rotation of the drive rod during operation of the second actuator device; and

first and second swing links freely connected to the leg rest member and rotatably connected to the drive rod, the first and second swing links rotated by the first and second leg rest drive links only in a first drive rod rotation direction.

4. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 3, further including a contact flange extending from the first and second leg rest drive links individually directly contacting one of the first or second swing links acting to rotate the first and second swing links together with the first and second leg rest drive links when the drive rod is rotated in the first drive rod rotation direction;

wherein contact by the leg rest member with an object during return of the leg rest member from the fully extended to the stowed position creates a gap between the first and second swing links and the contact flange of the first and second leg rest drive links permitting continued powered retraction of the first and second leg rest drive links without retraction of the leg rest member.

13. A furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion, comprising:

a first actuator device electrically operated to displace first and second seat back actuation links connected to and operating to rotate a seat back member between an upright position and a fully reclined position; and

a second actuator device electrically operated to rotate at least one drive link connected to and displacing a leg rest member between a stowed and a fully extended position;

an actuator extension shaft extended or retracted by operation of the second actuator device, the actuator extension shaft rotatably connected to a drive toggle connector;

a drive rod; and

a drive toggle connected to drive rod and rotatably connected to the drive toggle connector, the drive toggle axially rotating the drive rod when rotated by the drive toggle connector;

the mechanism selectively operated having one of the first and second actuator devices energized while the other one of the first and second actuator devices is de-energized, or having both the first and second actuator devices energized simultaneously.

14. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 13, further including:

a U-shaped swing connection tube having opposed first and second tube arms each rotatably connected to one of the first and second seat back actuation links; and

the first actuator extension shaft rotatably connected to the swing connection tube such that extension of the first actuator extension shaft rotates the swing connection tube.

15. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 14, further including a rod freely rotatably supporting both the first and second tube arms of the swing connection tube, the rod axially rotated by operation of the second actuation device to extend the leg rest member without rotation of the swing connection tube.

16. A furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion, comprising:

a first actuator device electrically operated to displace first and second seat back actuation links connected to and operating to rotate a seat back member between an upright position and a fully reclined position;

a second actuator device electrically operated to rotate at least one drive link connected to and displacing a leg rest member between a stowed and a fully extended position;

a pantograph linkage set connected to the leg rest member;

a leg rest drive link connected to a drive rod for co-rotation during axial rotation of the drive rod, and having a contact flange;

a swing link freely rotatably supported by the drive rod and connected to the pantograph linkage set, the swing link directly contacted by the contact flange to co-rotate the swing link together with the leg rest drive link only in a first drive rod rotation direction to extend the pantograph linkage set; and

the mechanism selectively operated having one of the first and second actuator devices energized while the other one of the first and second actuator devices is de-energized, or having both the first and second actuator devices energized simultaneously.

17. A furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion, comprising:

a first actuator device electrically operated to displace first and second seat back actuation links connected to and operating to rotate a seat back member between an upright position and a fully reclined position;

a pantograph linkage set connected to a leg rest member, the pantograph linkage set at least partially supported in an extended position by rotational contact with a support rod;

a second actuator device identical to the first actuator device and electrically operated to axially rotate a drive rod connected to at least one drive link, the drive link connected to and displacing the pantograph linkage set between a stowed and the extended positions;

a swing lever rotatably connected to the support rod and rotated during operation of the second actuator device to extend the pantograph linkage set, the swing lever in a fully rotated position displacing the support rod creating a furniture member tilt position;

a bulbous end of the swing lever having a first curved end face defining a convex shape; and

a drive toggle connector connected to the second actuator device, the drive toggle connector including a second curved end face having a geometry defining a concave shape, the concave shape corresponding to convex shape such that a longitudinal displacement of the drive toggle connector causes rotation of the swing lever where the first and second curved end faces contact each other.

18. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 17, further including:

a drive toggle connector connected to the second actuator device; and

a drive toggle connected to and co-rotatable with the drive rod and rotatably connected to the drive toggle connector, rotation of the drive toggle connector acting to rotate the drive toggle and thereby to axially rotate the drive rod.

19. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 18, further including an actuator extension shaft extended or retracted by operation of the second actuator device, the actuator extension shaft rotatably connected to the drive toggle connector.

20. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 17, wherein the mechanism is selectively operated in either a first or second mode, the first mode having one of the first and second actuator devices energized while the other one of the first and second actuator devices is de-energized, and the second mode having both the first and second actuator devices energized simultaneously.

21. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 17, further including a tilt swing lever rotatably connected to the swing lever and to a base member of the furniture member, an axis of the tilt swing lever substantially aligned with an axis of the swing lever in the fully rotated position.

22. The furniture member mechanism for power combined and independent seat back and leg rest motion of claim 17, further including:

an extension rod freely extending from the drive toggle connector; and

a rod clearance aperture created proximate the bulbous end of the swing lever, the extension rod slidably extending through the rod clearance aperture to maintain the first curved end face of the swing lever in alignment with the second curved end face of the drive toggle connector prior to contact between the first and second curved end faces.

23. A furniture member, comprising:

a furniture frame assembly rotatably connected to a base member;

a rocker spring assembly connected to each of the furniture frame assembly and the base member permitting a rocking motion of the furniture frame assembly with respect to the base member; and

a mechanism, including;

a first actuator device electrically operated to displace first and second seat back actuation links connected to and operating to rotate a seat back member between an upright position and a fully reclined position;

a pantograph linkage set connected to a leg rest member, the pantograph linkage set at least partially supported in an extended position by rotational contact with a support rod, the support rod connected to opposite first and second side members of the furniture frame assembly;

a second actuator device identical to the first actuator device and electrically operated to axially rotate a drive rod connected to at least one drive link, the drive link connected to and displacing the pantograph linkage set between a stowed and the extended positions;

a drive toggle connector connected to the second actuator device; and

a drive toggle connected to and co-rotatable with the drive rod and rotatably connected to the drive toggle connector, rotation of the drive toggle connector acting to rotate the drive toggle and thereby to axially rotate the drive rod.

24. The furniture member of claim 23, further including a swing lever rotatably connected to the support rod and rotated during operation of the second actuator device to extend the pantograph linkage set, the swing lever in a fully rotated position displacing the support rod lifting a front corner of the furniture frame assembly with respect to a rear corner of the furniture frame assembly creating a furniture frame assembly tilt position.

25. The furniture member of claim 24, further including:

a bulbous end of the swing lever having a first curved end face defining a convex shape; and

a drive toggle connector connected to the second actuator device, the drive toggle connector including a second curved end face having a geometry defining a concave shape, the concave shape corresponding to convex shape such that a longitudinal displacement of the drive toggle connector causes rotation of the swing lever where the first and second curved end faces contact each other.

26. The furniture member of claim 25, further including:

an extension rod freely extending from the drive toggle connector; and

a rod clearance aperture created proximate the bulbous end of the swing lever, the extension rod slidably extending through the rod clearance aperture to maintain the first curved end face of the swing lever in alignment with the second curved end face of the drive toggle connector prior to contact between the first and second curved end faces, wherein contact between the first and second curved end faces thereafter precludes the rocking motion of the furniture frame assembly.

27. The furniture member of claim 24, further including a tilt swing lever rotatably connected to each of the swing lever and the base member, an axis of the tilt swing lever substantially aligned with an axis of the swing lever in the fully rotated position.

28. The furniture member of claim 23, further including an actuator extension shaft extended or retracted by operation of the second actuator device, the actuator extension shaft rotatably connected to the drive toggle connector.

29. The furniture member of claim 23, wherein the mechanism is selectively operated in either a first or a second mode, the first mode having one of the first and second actuator devices energized while the other one of the first and second actuator devices is de-energized, and the second mode having both the first and second actuator devices energized simultaneously.