The present invention relates generally to powered chairs, and more particularly to a linear actuator and linkage system for an ottoman of riser-mounted theater seat chairs.
Chairs or similar furniture pieces having movable ottomans, which are adapted to move from a retracted, stowed position at which the ottoman is disposed beneath the seat of the chair, to an extended position at which the legs of the occupant of the chair are supported in an elevated position in front of the chair, are of course well-known. One example of such a furniture piece is disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,239 which issued to Johnson et al. on Dec. 9, 1997. In accordance with the disclosure of this noted patent, and as illustrated within
A need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs. Another need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator. Still another need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for use in conjunction with an ottoman, and wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair. Yet another need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, and wherein the linear actuator is operatively connected to the ottoman such that the linear actuator exerts push and pull forces upon the ottoman linkage system in a substantially horizontal direction. Yet still another need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, and wherein the linear actuator is operatively connected to the ottoman such that the linear actuator exerts push and pull forces upon the ottoman linkage system in a substantially horizontal direction so as to maximize the ease and efficiency of moving the ottoman between its extended and retracted positions. Still yet another need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, wherein a linkage system operatively connects the linear actuator to the ottoman, and wherein the linkage system comprises a thin profile linkage system. A further need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, wherein a linkage system operatively connects the linear actuator to the ottoman, wherein the linkage system comprises a thin profile linkage system, and wherein the thin profile linkage system is particularly advantageous for use within riser-mounted theater seats chairs.
A still further need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, wherein the linkage system operatively connects the linear actuator to the ottoman, wherein the linkage system comprises a thin profile linkage system, wherein the thin profile linkage system is particularly advantageous for use within riser-mounted theater seats chairs, and wherein the thin profile linkage system permits the ottoman to be disposed at its retracted position beneath the seat of the theater chair. A yet further need exists in the art for a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, wherein the linkage system operatively connects the linear actuator to the ottoman, wherein the linkage system comprises a thin profile linkage system, wherein the thin profile linkage system is particularly advantageous for use within riser-mounted theater seats chairs, wherein the thin profile linkage system permits the ottoman to be disposed at its retracted position beneath the seat of the theater chair, and wherein the thin-profile linkage system permits the linkage system and ottoman to be disposed in front of the riser of theater stadium seating.
Therefore, an overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs. Another overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator. Still another overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for use in conjunction with an ottoman, and wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair. Yet another overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, and wherein the linear actuator is operatively connected to the ottoman such that the linear actuator exerts push and pull forces upon the ottoman linkage system in a substantially horizontal direction. Yet still another overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, and wherein the linear actuator is operatively connected to the ottoman such that the linear actuator exerts push and pull forces upon the ottoman linkage system in a substantially horizontal direction so as to maximize the ease and efficiency of moving the ottoman between its extended and retracted positions. Still yet another overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, wherein a linkage system operatively connects the linear actuator to the ottoman, and wherein the linkage system comprises a thin profile linkage system. A further overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, wherein a linkage system operatively connects the linear actuator to the ottoman, wherein the linkage system comprises a thin profile linkage system, and wherein the thin profile linkage system is particularly advantageous for use within riser-mounted theater seats chairs.
A still further overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, wherein the linkage system operatively connects the linear actuator to the ottoman, wherein the linkage system comprises a thin profile linkage system, wherein the thin profile linkage system is particularly advantageous for use within riser-mounted theater seats chairs, and wherein the thin profile linkage system permits the ottoman to be disposed at its retracted position beneath the seat of the theater chair. A yet further overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved actuator and linkage system for chairs, wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator for an ottoman, wherein the ottoman is a component part of a theater seat chair, wherein the linkage system operatively connects the linear actuator to the ottoman, wherein the linkage system comprises a thin profile linkage system, wherein the thin profile linkage system is particularly advantageous for use within riser-mounted theater seats chairs, wherein the thin profile linkage system permits the ottoman to be disposed at its retracted position beneath the seat of the theater chair, and wherein the thin-profile linkage system permits the linkage system and ottoman to be disposed in front of the riser of theater stadium seating.
The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention by providing a new and improved linear actuator and linkage system for an ottoman of riser-mounted theater seat chairs comprising an ottoman board, upon which an ottoman is adapted to be fixedly secured, a linear actuator which has its motor end pivotally connected to a mounting bracket fixedly mounted upon a frame member of the chair, and the extendable/retractable tube or rod pivotally connected to a cross-beam which extends transversely between an upper pair of oppositely disposed sets of linkage members which connect the ottoman board to another frame member of the chair. In this manner, not only does the extendable/retractable tube or rod of the linear actuator exert a push force upon the ottoman board, which is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction that is effectively perpendicular to the ottoman board when the ottoman board is disposed at it closed or retracted position, so as to move the ottoman board from its closed or retracted position to its open or extended position, but in addition, the extendable/retractable tube or rod of the linear actuator likewise or conversely exerts a pull force upon the ottoman board and the upper pair of oppositely disposed sets of linkage members in the opposite substantially horizontal direction when the ottoman board is to be moved from its open or extended position to its closed or retracted position. This structural arrangement of the various operational components is therefore appreciated to be much more efficient than the prior art system of Johnson et al. in that the substantially horizontally oriented forces define a mechanical advantage which is far superior to the vertically oriented forces characteristic of the Johnson et al. coiled spring mechanism. More particularly, in lieu of the spring forces of Johnson et al. effectively being oriented in a direction that is effectively colinear with the lower linkage member 40, the linear actuator of the present invention exerts forces upon the upper linkage members of the present invention linkage system which are effectively perpendicular to the upper linkage members of the present invention linkage system. In addition, it can also be appreciated that the linear actuator controls the disposition of the linkage members and the ottoman board, thereby eliminating any need for an over-center locking mechanism, or locking devices for maintaining the ottoman board both at the open or extended position, as well as at the closed or retracted position.
Still further, the new and improved linear actuator and linkage system for an ottoman is particularly desirable for use upon riser-mounted theater seat chairs, and especially within newer theaters which now employ stadium-type seating. More particularly, the new and improved linear actuator and linkage system defines a thin-profile system wherein the linkage members can be stowed beneath the front of the chair seat and in front of a riser of the stadium-type theater seating when the chair is fixedly mounted upon a tread portion of the stadium-type theater seating arrangement. Yet further, the linear actuator is nevertheless fully functional so as to be capable of moving the ottoman board between its open or extended and closed or retracted positions. Still yet further, the new and improved chair is also provided with a reclining backrest, wherein the reclining and upright positions are controlled by another linear actuator and back mounting brackets, and lastly, the seat portion of the chair is capable of being moved upwardly and forwardly so as to facilitate cleaning as well as any maintenance or repair which may be required in connection with the linear actuator.
Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
As can therefore be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the ottoman board 102 is mounted upon the chair, and its movements between the open or extended position and the closed or retracted position are controlled, by the linear actuator 104 and the various linkage members 118, 120, 132, 134, 140, 142, 152, 154. More particularly, as can best be appreciated from
Still further, the new and improved linear actuator and linkage system for an ottoman is particularly desirable for use upon riser-mounted theater seat chairs, especially within newer theaters which now employ stadium-type seating. More particularly, with reference being made to
Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.