FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a furniture member having a cam tilt mechanism.
BACKGROUND
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.
Furniture members such as chairs, sofas, loveseats, sectionals, and the like can include a mechanism that allows an occupant of the furniture member to move a legrest panel or platform from a stowed or retracted position to a deployed or extended position to support the legs and/or feet of the occupant. Other furniture members include rocker assemblies that allow for one or more seat assemblies to rock between a rocked-back tilt position and a rocked-forward tilt position.
The present disclosure provides a furniture member having rocker assemblies and an extendable legrest. The furniture member of the present disclosure also includes a tilt mechanism that locks the seat assembly in a selected tilt position when the occupant moves the legrest out of the retracted position. This allows the occupant to select a position of the furniture member that provides optimal comfort for any given occupant on any given occasion.
SUMMARY
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
The present disclosure provides a furniture member that may include a base frame and a seat assembly mounted on the base frame. The seat assembly may include a seat frame, a seatback, a seat bottom, a rocker member, a legrest mechanism, and a tilt mechanism. The seatback is mounted to the seat frame. The seat bottom is mounted to the seat frame. The rocker member may be attached to the seat frame and is in rolling contact with the base frame. The rocker member supports the seat assembly relative to the base frame such that the seat assembly is movable between a fully rocked-back tilt position and a fully rocked-forward tilt position. The legrest mechanism is mounted to the seat frame and attached to a legrest platform. The legrest mechanism may include a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage that is movable relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The tilt mechanism may selectively lock the seat assembly in one of an infinite number of tilt positions between the fully rocked-back tilt position and the fully rocked-forward tilt position.
In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a cam, a first link (e.g., a cam support link), a second link (e.g., a connecting link), and a cam follower. The cam may be coupled to the drive rod and the first link. The first link may be rotatably mounted to the base frame. The second link may be rotatably coupled to the first link and the seat frame. The cam follower may be rotatably coupled to the second link. The first and second links may rotate relative to the base frame and the seat frame as the seat assembly moves between the fully rocked-back and fully rocked-forward tilt positions.
In some configurations, rotation of the drive rod relative to the seat frame causes corresponding rotation of the cam about a first rotational axis extending through the cam and the first link between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cam may frictionally engage the cam follower in the locked position to lock the seat assembly in one of the infinite number of tilt positions between the fully rocked-back tilt position and the fully rocked-forward tilt position. The cam may be disengaged from the cam follower in the unlocked position.
In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a third link (e.g., an actuation link) operatively coupling the cam with the drive rod. The cam may be rotatable relative to the third link about a second rotational axis that extends through the cam and the third link.
In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a crank link coupling the drive rod with the third link.
In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a fourth link (e.g., a cam follower support link) coupled to the seat frame and rotatable relative to the first and second links. The cam follower may be rotatably attached to an end of the fourth link.
In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a first stop member that extends from the second link and limits a range of rotational motion of the fourth link relative to the second link.
In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a spring attached to the first stop member and the cam follower.
In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a cam follower runner extending outward from the cam follower and slidably engaging the cam when the cam is in the unlocked position. The cam follower runner may maintain a cam engagement surface of the cam follower spaced apart from the cam in the unlocked position.
In some configurations, the seat assembly includes a brace member extending from the drive rod to a front rail plate of the seat frame. The brace member may include a second stop member extending therefrom and further limiting the range of rotational motion of the fourth link relative to the second link.
In some configurations, the cam includes a convex cam surface that engages a concave cam engagement surface of the cam follower.
In some configurations, a friction pad is attached to a body of the cam follower and defines the concave cam engagement surface. The body of the cam follower may be formed from a first material, and the friction pad may be formed from a second material having a higher coefficient of friction than the first material.
In some configurations, the tilt mechanism includes a torsion spring attached to the cam and the first link and rotationally biasing the cam about a first rotational axis relative to the first link. The first rotational axis extends through the first link and the cam.
In some configurations, the legrest mechanism includes a mid-ottoman bracket non-rotatably attached to a link of the pantograph linkage. The mid-ottoman bracket is disposed between the seat bottom and the legrest platform when the pantograph linkage is in the extended position.
In some configurations, the mid-ottoman bracket is removably attached to the link of the pantograph linkage with a threaded fastener.
In some configurations, the seat assembly includes a front swing link having a first end pivotably coupled to a first bracket fixedly attached to the seat bottom and a second end pivotably coupled to a second bracket fixedly attached to a front rail plate of the seat frame.
In some configurations, the seatback is rotatable relative to the seat bottom between a reclined position and an upright position. Rotation of the seatback may cause rotation of the front swing link relative to the seat frame. Rotation of the front swing link relative to the seat frame may move the seat bottom forward or backward relative to the seat frame.
The present disclosure also provides a furniture member that may include a base frame, a seat frame, a rocker member, a leg rest mechanism, and a tilt mechanism. The seat frame is mounted to the base frame. The rocker member is attached to the seat frame and is in rolling contact with the base frame. The rocker member supports the seat frame relative to the base frame such that the seat frame is movable between a fully rocked-back tilt position and a fully rocked-forward tilt position. The legrest mechanism is mounted to the seat frame and is attached to a legrest platform. The legrest mechanism may include a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage that is movable relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The tilt mechanism may include a cam and a cam follower. The drive rod may be drivingly coupled to the cam to move the cam relative to the cam follower between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cam may frictionally engage the cam follower in the locked position to lock the seat frame in one of an infinite number of tilt positions between the fully rocked-back tilt position and the fully rocked-forward tilt position. The cam may be disengaged from the cam follower in the unlocked position.
The present disclosure also provides a furniture member that may include a base frame, a seat frame, a seat bottom, a seatback, a front swing link, a rocker member, a legrest mechanism, and a tilt mechanism. The seat frame is mounted to the base frame. The seat bottom is mounted to the seat frame. The seatback is mounted to the seat frame. The seatback is rotatable relative to the seat bottom and the seat frame between a reclined position and an upright position. The front swing link includes a first end pivotably coupled to a first bracket fixedly attached to the seat bottom and a second end pivotably coupled to a second bracket fixedly attached to a front rail plate and/or a side rail plate of the seat frame. Rotation of the seatback between the reclined and upright positions may cause rotation of the front swing link relative to the seat frame. Rotation of the front swing link relative to the seat frame may move the seat bottom relative to the seat frame. The rocker member may be attached to the seat frame and is in rolling contact with the base frame. The rocker member supports the seat frame relative to the base frame such that the seat frame is movable between a fully rocked-back tilt position and a fully rocked-forward tilt position. The legrest mechanism is mounted to the seat frame and attached to a legrest platform. The legrest mechanism may include a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage that is movable relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The legrest mechanism may include a mid-ottoman bracket non-rotatably and removably attached to a link of the pantograph linkage. The mid-ottoman bracket may be disposed between the seat bottom and the legrest platform when the pantograph linkage is in the extended position. The tilt mechanism including a cam and a cam follower. The drive rod may be drivingly coupled to the cam to move the cam relative to the cam follower between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cam frictionally engages the cam follower in the locked position to lock the seat frame in one of an infinite number of tilt positions between the fully rocked-back tilt position and the fully rocked-forward tilt position. The cam may be disengaged from the cam follower in the unlocked position. In some configurations, a cam follower support link may move the center of a pivot of the cam follower to an over-center position relative to a pivot of the cam (e.g., a rotational axis of the cam extending through the cam and cam support links) to prevent disengagement of the cam follower from the cam during operational use.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a furniture member having a tilt mechanism according to the principles of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the furniture member;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the furniture member in a nominal tilt position;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the furniture member in the nominal tilt position and with portions of a base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show a tilt mechanism in an unlocked position;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the furniture member in a rocked-back tilt position;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the furniture member in the rocked-back tilt position and with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in the unlocked position;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the furniture member in a rocked-forward tilt position;
FIG. 8 is a side view of the furniture member in the rocked-forward tilt position and with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in the unlocked position;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tilt mechanism in the unlocked position;
FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the tilt mechanism in the unlocked position;
FIG. 11 is a side view of the furniture member in the nominal tilt position with a seatback in a reclined position and a legrest mechanism in an extended position;
FIG. 12 is a side view of the furniture member positioned as shown in FIG. 11 with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in a locked position;
FIG. 13 is a side view of the furniture member in the rocked-back tilt position with the seatback in the reclined position and the legrest mechanism in the extended position and with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in the locked position;
FIG. 14 is a partial side view of the furniture member with the legrest moving toward the retracted position and the tilt mechanism moving toward the unlocked position;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a front swing link and brackets;
FIG. 16 is another side view of the furniture member in the rocked-back tilt position with the seatback in the reclined position and the legrest mechanism in the extended position and with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show the tilt mechanism in the locked position;
FIG. 17 is a side view of the furniture member with the seatback in the reclined position with portions of the base frame, seat frame, legrest mechanism and tilt mechanism removed to more clearly show a position of the front swing link;
FIG. 18 is a side view of the furniture member with the seatback in the upright position with portions of the base frame, seat frame, legrest mechanism and tilt mechanism removed to more clearly show a position of the front swing link;
FIG. 19 is another side view of the furniture member with the seatback in the upright position with portions of the base frame and seat frame removed to more clearly show positions of the front swing link and links connecting the seatback and seat bottom;
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a pantograph linkage of the legrest mechanism with a mid-ottoman bracket removed according to the principles of the present disclosure;
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a pantograph linkage of the legrest mechanism with the mid-ottoman bracket attached according to the principles of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 22 is partial side view of the furniture member with another configuration of the tilt mechanism in an unlocked position.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a furniture member 10 is provided that may include a base frame 12, a seat assembly 14, a legrest mechanism 16, and a tilt mechanism 18. As will be described in more detail below, the seat assembly 14 is able to rock relative to the base frame 12 among a nominal tilt position (FIGS. 3 and 4), a rocked-back tilt position (FIGS. 5 and 6), and a rocked-forward tilt position (FIGS. 7 and 8). The seat assembly 14 is movable between a reclined position (FIGS. 16 and 17) and an upright position (FIGS. 18 and 19) while the furniture member 10 is in any of the nominal, rocked-back, and rocked-forward tilt positions (and in any tilt position between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions). Furthermore, the legrest mechanism 16 is movable between a retracted position (FIGS. 18 and 19) and an extended position (FIGS. 16 and 17) while the furniture member 10 is in any of the nominal, rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions (and in any tilt position between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions) and while the seat assembly 14 is in either of reclined and upright positions (or any position therebetween). As shown in FIGS. 12-14, when the legrest mechanism 16 is moved into the extended position (i.e., a fully extended position or a partially extended position), the tilt mechanism 18 locks the seat assembly 14 into a selected tilt position (i.e., the seat assembly 14 is prevented from rocking relative to the base frame 12). As the legrest mechanism 16 moves into the retracted position, the tilt mechanism 18 unlocks the seat assembly 14 relative to the base frame 12 to allow the seat assembly 14 to rock among the nominal, rocked-back, and rocked-forward tilt positions.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, the base frame 12 may include plurality of stationary beams including, for example, a pair of side support members 20 and a pair of cross members 22 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1). The cross members 22 are spaced apart from each other and are attached to and extend between the side support members 20. A pair of feet 24 (FIG. 3) may be attached to each of the side support members 20.
As shown in FIGS. 1-8, the seat assembly 14 may include a seat frame 28, a seatback 30, a seat bottom 32, and a legrest platform 34. The seat frame 28 may include a plurality of armrests 36 and a seat base 38 that supports the seatback 30, the seat bottom 32 and the legrest mechanism 16. As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, a pair of rocker assemblies 40 (only one of which is shown in the figures) may be attached to the seat base 38 and the base frame 12 to allow the seat assembly 14 to rock relative to the base frame 12 among the nominal, rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions.
Each rocker assembly 40 includes a rocker member 42 and a pair of springs 44. The rocker member 42 is fixedly attached to the seat base 38 and rollingly contacts a corresponding one of the side support members 20 of the base frame 12. Each pair of springs 44 are attached via brackets 46 to the corresponding rocker member 42 and the corresponding side support member 20. The springs 44 allow the rocker members 42 to rock along the side support members 20 between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions (FIGS. 5-8) while biasing the rocker members 42 (and hence, the seat assembly 14) toward the nominal position (FIGS. 3 and 4). The rocker assemblies 40 could have the structure and function of those disclosed in Assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 9,314,101, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 19, the seatback 30 is rotatably coupled to the seat base 38 to allow the seatback 30 to rotate relative to the seat frame 28 and the seat bottom 32 between the fully upright position (e.g., FIGS. 18 and 19) and the fully reclined position (e.g., FIGS. 16 and 17). The seatback 30 is pivotably coupled to the seat frame 28 by a pair of rear swing links 48. Each rear swing link 48 is pivotably coupled to a friction link 50 and a rear arm 52. The rear arms 52 include fasteners 54 that slidably engage slots 56 in the friction links 50. The seat bottom 32 is supported by the rear arms 52 and a pair of front swing links 58 (FIGS. 15, 16 and 19). As shown in FIG. 18, each front swing link 58 is rotatably coupled at one end to the seat bottom 32 via a first bracket 59 and coupled at the other end to a front rail plate 60 and a side rail plate 61 of the seat base 38 via a second bracket 62 (e.g., an L-shaped bracket). The front swing links 58 may be rotatably coupled to the brackets 59, 62 via preloaded joint assemblies 63, 67 (FIG. 15). The joint assemblies 63, 67 can be similar or identical to the joint assemblies disclosed in Assignee's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/174,060, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The rear arms 52 and the front swing links 58 cooperate to support the seat bottom 32. When the seatback 30 rotates relative to the seat frame 28 between the upright and reclined positions, the slots 56 of the friction links 50 slide along the fasteners 54, and the front swing links 58 rotate relative to the seat bottom 32 and the front rail plate 60, thereby moving the seat bottom 32 forward relative to the seat frame 28 (compare FIGS. 16 and 19). Moving the seat bottom 32 forward and rearward using the front swing links 58 allows for an amount of material at or near the top corners of the front rail plate 60 to be increased as compared to seat bottoms that are moved forward and rearward using brackets (placed at the front of the seat bottom 32) having slots that slide along a support rod.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11-14, the legrest mechanism 16 may include the drive rod 64 (FIG. 2) and a pair of pantograph linkages 66 (only one of which is shown in the figures). A handle 68 (FIGS. 2 and 11) is connected to an end of the drive rod 64. Rotation of the handle 68 relative to the seat frame 28 causes corresponding rotation of the drive rod 64 relative to the seat frame 28. The drive rod 64 is rotatably coupled to drive links 65 (FIG. 2; only one of which is shown in the figures) which is rotatably coupled to the pantograph linkages 66 such that rotation of the drive rod 64 causes the pantograph linkages 66 to move between the retracted position (FIG. 2) and the extended position (FIGS. 11-14). The legrest platform 34 is attached to and supported by the pantograph linkages 66 such that a user may rest his or her legs and/or feet on the legrest platform 34 while sitting in the furniture member 10 with the legrest mechanism 16 in the extended position.
As shown in FIG. 21, each of the pantograph linkages 66 may include a first support link 70, a swing link 72, a second support link 74, a cross link 76, a third support link 78, a bracket link 80, and a mid-ottoman bracket 82. In some configurations, preloaded joint assemblies similar or identical to the joint assemblies disclosed in Assignee's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/174,060 can be utilized to rotatably couple any of two or more of the links 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 to each other.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, a first end 84 of the first support link 70 may be rotatably coupled to an end of the drive link 65. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a second end 86 of the first support link 70 is rotatably coupled to a first end 88 of the cross link 76. An intermediate portion 90 of the first support link 70 (disposed between the first and second ends 84, 86) is rotatably coupled to an intermediate portion 92 of the swing link 72. In some configurations, the first support link 70 can be a substantially flat member without any offsets, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. Forming the first support link 70 without offsets improves the load capacity of the first support link 70.
A first end 94 of the swing link 72 may be rotatably coupled to a support rod 96 (FIG. 2) that is mounted to the seat frame 28. As shown in FIG. 21, a second end 98 of the swing link 72 may be rotatably coupled to a first end 100 of the second support link 74. The intermediate portion 92 of the swing link 72 is disposed between the first and second ends 94, 98.
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a second end 102 of the second support link 74 is rotatably coupled to a first end 104 of the bracket link 80. As shown in FIG. 20, an intermediate portion 106 of the second support link 74 (disposed between the first and second ends 100, 102) is rotatably coupled to an intermediate portion 108 of the cross link 76. A second end 110 of the cross link 76 is rotatably coupled to a first end 112 of the third support link 78. A second end 114 of the third support link 78 is rotatably coupled to a second end 116 of the bracket link 80. The legrest platform 34 may be fixedly attached to the bracket link 80, as shown in FIG. 14.
The mid-ottoman bracket 82 may support a mid-ottoman platform 83 (FIGS. 14 and 16) such that the mid-ottoman platform 83 is positioned between the seat bottom 32 and the legrest platform 34 when the legrest mechanism 16 is in the extended position (FIG. 16). As shown in FIG. 21, the mid-ottoman bracket 82 may be fixedly (i.e., non-rotatably) attached to the cross link 76 by a fastener 118 (e.g., a screw or bolt). Attaching the mid-ottoman bracket 82 to the cross link 76 in this manner allows for the same pantograph linkages 66 to be used in non-chaise versions of the furniture member 10 (i.e., configurations having the mid-ottoman bracket 82 and mid-ottoman platform 83) and in chaise versions of the furniture member 10 (i.e., configurations that do not have the mid-ottoman bracket 82 and mid-ottoman platform 83). That is, the manufacturer of the furniture member 10 can optionally attach the mid-ottoman bracket 82 and mid-ottoman platform 83 to the cross link 76 (FIG. 21) for non-chaise versions of the furniture member 10 or omit the mid-ottoman bracket 82 and mid-ottoman platform 83 (FIG. 20) for chaise versions of the furniture member 10 without making any changes to the structure of the pantograph linkage 66. This reduces the number of sub-assemblies that the manufacturer needs to have in inventory to offer chaise and non-chaise configurations of the furniture member 10.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the tilt mechanism 18 may include an actuation link 120, a cam 122, a pair of cam support links 124, a pair of connecting links 126, a cam follower 128, and a pair of cam follower support links 130. The actuation link 120 may be rotatably coupled at one end to a crank link 132 (FIGS. 2 and 4) and rotatably coupled at the other end to the cam 122. As shown in FIG. 2, the crank link 132 is coupled to the drive rod 64 such that rotation of the drive rod 64 (via handle 68) causes corresponding motion of the crank link 132 and the actuation link 120.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cam 122 includes a cam body 134 and a convex curved cam surface 136 that defines a portion of the outer periphery of the cam body 134. The cam body 134 may be rotatably coupled to an intermediate portion 138 of each of the cam support links 124. One or more torsion springs 139 (FIG. 10) are attached to the cam body 134 and the cam support links 124 and rotationally bias the cam 122 relative to the cam support links 124 in a clockwise direction (relative to the frame of reference of FIG. 4). First ends 140 of the cam support links 124 are rotatably coupled to brackets 142 that are fixedly mounted to the base frame 12 (e.g., one of the cross members 22). Second ends 144 of the cam support links 124 are rotatably coupled to first ends 146 of the connecting links 126. As shown in FIG. 2, the second ends 148 of the connecting links 126 are rotatably coupled to the support rod 96 (which is attached to the seat frame 28) via one or more bushings 150. Because the cam support links 124 are mounted for rotation relative to the base frame 12, and the connecting links 126 are rotatably mounted to the cam support links 124 for rotation relative to the seat frame 28, the rocking motion of the seat assembly 14 relative to the base frame 12 between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions causes corresponding rotation of the cam support links 124 and the connecting links 126 (see FIGS. 4, 6 and 8).
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cam follower 128 includes a cam engagement surface 152 and is rotatably coupled to a first end 154 of each cam follower support link 130. The cam engagement surface 152 is a concave surface having a radius that substantially matches a radius of the convex cam surface 136 of the cam 122. In some configurations, a friction pad 153 is attached to a main body of the cam follower 128. The friction pad 153 may define the cam engagement surface 152 and may be formed from a material having a higher coefficient of friction than a material from which the main body of the cam follower 128 is formed. For example, the main body of the cam follower 128 may be formed from a relatively hard polymer or metal, and the friction pad 153 can be formed from urethane (e.g., with a Shore hardness of about 60 A) or any other polymer or elastomer that allows for improved grip with the cam surface 136. In some configurations, the friction pad 153 can be attached to the cam follower 128 with brads or other fasteners. In some configurations, the cam surface 136 may include a surface texture (i.e., scratches and/or scuffs formed by rubbing steel wool or other abrasive material on the cam surface 136) that increases the coefficient of friction of the cam surface 136. In some configurations, the cam follower 128 can be formed from a single, homogenous material selected such that the minimum coefficient of friction between the cam follower 128 and the cam 122 is approximately 0.5, for example.
A second end 156 of each cam follower support link 130 is rotatably coupled to the support rod 96 and the second ends 148 of the connecting links 126 via a bushing 158. As shown in FIG. 10, a spring 160 is attached to the cam follower 128 and to a peg 162 that is attached to and spans between the two connecting links 126. The spring 160 causes rotation of the cam follower 128 relative to the cam follower support links 130 as the cam follower support links 130 rotate relative to the connecting links 126. The peg 162 also acts as a stop member to limit to a range of relative rotation between the connecting links 126 and the cam follower support links 130. The spring 160 also rotationally biases the cam follower support links 130 toward the peg 162.
As shown in FIG. 2, brace members 164 are mounted to the drive rod 64 and the front rail plate 60. The drive rod 64 is allowed to rotate relative to the brace members 164. A cross member 166 extends between the brace members 164 and acts as a stop member to limit the range of rotational motion of the cam follower support links 130. The brace members 164 also support the support rod 96 and are supported by pegs 168 attached to the connecting links 126. In this manner, the tilt mechanism 18 can assist in supporting the weight of the seat bottom 32 and an occupant sitting on the seat bottom 32. The pegs 168 may act as an overall stop (as shown in FIG. 6) to prevent the cam support links 124 and the connecting links 126 from moving over-center at pivots defined by bushings 150 and ends 140, 144 of the cam support links 124.
With continued reference to FIGS. 1-21, operation of the tilt mechanism 18 will be described in detail. As described above, the seat assembly 14 is able to freely rock between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions while the legrest mechanism 16 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 3-8. As shown in FIGS. 12-14, when the legrest mechanism 16 is moved into the extended position, the tilt mechanism 18 locks the seat assembly 14 into a selected tilt position (i.e., the tilt mechanism 18 prevents the seat assembly 14 from rocking relative to the base frame 12 when the legrest mechanism is in the extended position). As the legrest mechanism 16 moves into the retracted position, the tilt mechanism 18 unlocks the seat assembly 14 relative to the base frame 12 to allow the seat assembly 14 to rock among the nominal, rocked-back, and rocked-forward tilt positions.
As described above, rotation of the handle 68 (FIG. 2) causes rotation of the drive rod 64 relative to the seat frame 28, which simultaneously moves the pantograph linkages 66 of the legrest mechanism 16 between the retracted and extended positions and moves actuation link 120 of the tilt mechanism 18. Comparing FIGS. 4 and 12, for example, it can be seen that rotation of the drive rod 64 causes corresponding rotation of the crank link 132, which pushes the actuation link 120 of the tilt mechanism 18 forward relative to the base frame 12 toward the front end of the furniture member 10 (i.e., toward the front rail plate 60). Such forward motion of the actuation link 120 causes the cam 122 to rotate relative to the cam support link 124 (about a rotational axis A1 (FIG. 10) extending through the cam 122 and the cam support links 124) from the unlocked position shown in FIG. 4 (in which the cam surface 136 of the cam 122 is spaced apart from the cam engagement surface 152 of the cam follower 128) to the locked position shown in FIG. 12 (in which the cam surface 136 of the cam 122 is engaged with the cam engagement surface 152 of the cam follower 128). A frictional force between the cam follower 128 and the cam 122 holds or locks the seat assembly 14 relative to the base frame 12 at the tilt position (e.g., rocked-back, nominal or rocked-forward) at which the seat assembly 14 is positioned when the legrest mechanism 16 is moved into at least a partially extended position.
In some configurations, full rotation of the handle 68 and drive rod 64 (i.e., rotation of the handle 68 to fully extend the legrest mechanism 16) is not necessary to engage the cam follower 128 with the cam 122. Rather, partial rotation (i.e., to partially extend the legrest mechanism 16) is all that may be required to engage the cam follower 128 with the cam 122. For example, in configurations of the furniture member 10 having a three-position legrest mechanism (e.g., such as the type disclosed in Assignee's commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,855, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference), the cam follower 128 may be in full engagement with the cam 122 at all three partially or fully extended positions. Engagement of the cam follower 128 with the cam 122 at any of the three partially or fully extended positions can be accomplished at any position within the full range of tilt movement and does not limit the ability of the cam 122 and cam follower 128 to stop rocking movement.
As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, when the tilt mechanism 18 is in the unlocked position, rocking of the seat assembly 14 among the tilt positions causes the cam 122 to rotate about a rotational axis A2 (FIGS. 4 and 10) extending through the actuation link 120 and the cam 122. The frictional force between the cam follower 128 and the cam 122 when the tilt mechanism 18 is in the locked position prevents the cam 122 from rotating relative to the cam follower 128 and thus prevents the cam 122 from rotating about the rotational axis A2. Preventing rotation of the cam 122 about the rotational axis A2 prevents movement of the cam support links 124 and the connecting links 126 relative to the base frame 12, thereby preventing the seat assembly 14 from rocking relative to the base frame 12. Because the cam follower 128 only engages a portion of the cam surface 136 of the cam 122, the cam follower 128 can engage the cam 122 to lock seat assembly 14 in any of the infinite number of tilt positions between (and including) the fully rocked-back and fully rocked-forward tilt positions.
When the legrest mechanism 16 is moved from an extended position toward the retracted position (as shown in FIG. 14), the cam follower support links 130 can rotate clockwise (relative to the frame of reference of FIG. 14). Such rotation of the cam follower support links 130 reduces the frictional force between the cam follower 128 and the cam 122, thereby reducing the amount of force that the user is required to apply to rotate the handle 68 to unlock the tilt mechanism 18 and retract the legrest mechanism 16. Once the cam follower 128 disengages the cam 122, the spring 160 (FIG. 10) rotates the cam follower support links 130 counterclockwise (relative to the frame of reference of FIG. 14) back toward the peg 162.
As shown in FIG. 13, when the tilt mechanism 18 is in the locked position, a pivot 170 that defines a rotational axis of the cam follower 128 relative to the cam follower support links 130 is located in an over-center position in which the pivot 170 is located between the front rail plate 60 and a vertical axis A3 extending through the support rod 96 and the rotational axis A1. When the pivot 170 is in this over-center position, the cam follower support links 130 assist in supporting the load from an occupant's weight and a load applied by the springs 44 of the rocker assemblies 40. As shown in FIG. 14, when the legrest mechanism 16 is moved from the extended position toward the retracted position, the clockwise rotation (relative to the frame of reference of FIG. 14) of the cam follower support links 130 described above moves the pivot 170 out of the over-center position (i.e., such that the axis A3 is located between the axis A3 and the front rail plate 60), which reduces the load on the cam follower support links 130, thereby reducing the amount of force that the user is required to apply to rotate the handle 68 to unlock the tilt mechanism 18 and retract the legrest mechanism 16, as described above.
As shown in FIG. 22, in some configurations, the cam follower 128 may include a cam follower runner 180 (e.g., a thin, flexible tab) extending therefrom that slidably engages the cam surface 136 of the cam 122 when the tilt mechanism 18 is in the unlocked position. Contact between the cam follower runner 180 and the cam surface 136 keeps the cam follower 128 and cam follower support links 130 out of the over-center position while the tilt mechanism 18 is in the unlocked position (but does not prevent the cam follower 128 and cam follower support links 130 from moving into the over-center position when the tilt mechanism 18 is in the locked position). Keeping the cam follower 128 and cam follower support links 130 out of the over-center position prevents incidental contact between the cam 122 and the cam follower 128 during normal rocking of the seat assembly 14 while the tilt mechanism 18 is in the unlocked position. Preventing such incidental contact eliminates noise that can occur due to incidental rubbing of the cam follower 128 against the cam 122 during normal rocking.
While the furniture member 10 is shown in the figures as a chair having a single seat assembly 14, it will be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosure could be incorporated into a sofa, a love seat, a sectional, or any other type of furniture member having one or more seat assemblies.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
Patent Grant
9986835
