The present invention relates generally to recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, and more particularly to a protective cover, which is fixedly attached to a protective cover mounting bracket that is located immediately adjacent to, and to the rear of, the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, wherein the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa can be moved between extended and retracted positions by means of a linear actuator and linkage members operatively connected to the linear actuator, so as to effectively cover the forwardmost linkage members of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, and thereby prevent children or pets from becoming injured when the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa is being moved from, for example, its extended position to its retracted position, during which time, the various linkage members are undergoing contracted movements which potentially present a situation where a child's finger, arm, or leg, or a small pet or a pet's head, leg, paw, or tail, can get caught or pinched between the contracting linkage members, thereby injuring the child or pet. In addition, the present invention comprises a recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which effectively moves the back, seat, and foot sections of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa by means of a single linear actuator through means of strategically positioned and strategically interconnected linkage members and mounting brackets.
Powered recliner chairs, love seats, and sofas have become increasingly popular within recent years as consumers choose to incorporate such furniture pieces into their homes and offices. Powered recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, offer consumers places to relax so that they can comfortably watch TV, read a book, or even take a short nap due to the fact that the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa can be quickly transformed from an upright position to a comfortable substantially supine position by depressing a control button which will activate linear actuators which subsequently move the backrest, seat, and footrest sections of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa into a substantially horizontal, or any intermediate, position as a result of the linear actuators being operatively connected to various linkage members pivotally attached to each other as well as to backrest, seat, and footrest mounting brackets of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa. It has been discovered, however, that since the forwardmost linkage members of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, that are operatively connected to the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, are effectively exposed when the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa has been raised to its extended position, such forwardmost linkage members can present a potential danger to small children or pets when the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa is retracted back toward its fully retracted position in view of the fact that such linkage members are being contracted so as to be spatially accommodated within the overall frame of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa when the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa has in fact attained its fully retracted position.
Still further, in conventional powered recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, multiple linear actuators are normally provided such that, for example, a first linear actuator is utilized to actuate the backrest and seat sections of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa through means of a first set of linkage members and mounting brackets, while a second linear actuator is utilized to actuate the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa through means of a second set of linkage members and mounting brackets. It can be readily appreciated that this structural arrangement increases the cost of manufacture of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, in view of the fact that first and second linear actuators are required to actuate the various sections of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, as well as first and second sets of linkage members and mounting brackets operatively associated with the first and second linear actuators.
Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa. Another need exists in the art for a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas. An additional need exists in the art for a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, particularly the covering of the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa. A further need exists in the art for a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, particularly the covering of the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa such that the forward most linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, will no longer be exposed. A still further need exists in the art for a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, particularly the covering of the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa such that the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, will no longer be exposed such that fingers, arms, or legs of children, or small pets or their heads, legs, paws, or tails, cannot get caught or pinched between the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa as the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa is being retracted from its extended position. A yet further need exists in the art for a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, particularly the covering of the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa such that the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, will no longer be exposed such that fingers, arms, or legs of children, or small pets or their heads, legs, paws, or tails, cannot get caught or pinched between the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa as the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa is being retracted from its extended position whereby the forward most linkage members of the footrest section will be contracted so as to be spatially accommodated within the overall frame of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa when the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa has in fact attained its fully retracted position. A last need exists in the art for a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, wherein the various movable sections of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, such as, for example, the back section, the seat section, and the footrest section, can be actuated between fully retracted and fully extended positions by means of a single linear actuator operatively connected to various linkage members and mounting brackets.
Accordingly, an overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa. Another overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas. An additional overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, particularly the covering of the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa. A further overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, particularly the covering of the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa such that the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, will no longer be exposed. A still further overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, particularly the covering of the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa such that the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, will no longer be exposed such that fingers, arms, or legs of children, or small pets or their heads, legs, paws, or tails, cannot get caught or pinched between the forward most linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa as the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa is being retracted from its extended position.
A yet further overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa which will rectify the noted deficiencies characteristic of conventional recliner chairs, love seats, or sofas, particularly the covering of the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa such that the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, will no longer be exposed such that fingers, arms, or legs of children, or small pets or their heads, legs, paws, or tails, cannot get caught or pinched between the forward most linkage members of the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa as the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa is being retracted from its extended position whereby the forwardmost linkage members of the footrest section will be contracted so as to be spatially accommodated within the overall frame of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa when the footrest section of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa has in fact attained its fully retracted position. A last overall objective of the present invention is to provide a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, wherein the various movable sections of the recliner chair, love seat, or sofa, such as, for example, the back section, the seat section, and the footrest section, can be actuated between fully retracted and fully extended positions by means of a single linear actuator operatively connected to various linkage members and mounting brackets.
The foregoing and other objectives of the present invention are achieved by the present invention which provides a new and improved recliner chair, love seat, or sofa. It is to be noted that while the present invention is equally applicable to recliner chairs, love seats, and sofas, for brevity, this disclosure will be limited to recliner chairs. Accordingly, it will be seen that the recliner chair comprises a movable backrest section, a seat section, and a movable footrest section. A single, dual-directional linear actuator assembly has its motor end operatively connected to an undersurface portion of the seat section, while a telescopic rod of the single, dual-directional linear actuator assembly is operatively connected to a laterally extending synchronization bar which is operatively connected at its opposite ends to a pair of laterally spaced, substantially L-shaped backrest mounting brackets, at positions below the pivotal axes of the laterally spaced, substantially L-shaped backrest mounting brackets, so as to ensure that both of the L-shaped backrest brackets move synchronously together in unison with each other. The upper end sections of the backrest brackets are fixedly connected to opposite sides of the backrest, while terminal end portions of the lower end sections of the laterally spaced backrest brackets are pivotally connected to a pair of laterally spaced seat mounting brackets, as well as being operatively connected to a pair of laterally spaced footrest mounting brackets, by means of a plurality of intervening, interconnected linkage members. An additional pair of laterally spaced seat mounting brackets are connected to the pair of laterally spaced backrest brackets at the vertices where the upper end sections of the backrest brackets and the lower end sections of the backrest brackets meet, and at where the pivotal axes of the pair of laterally spaced backrest brackets are located, while the opposite ends of the synchronization bar are connected to the lower end sections of the backrest brackets at points intermediate the vertices defined between the upper end sections of the backrest brackets and the lower end sections of the backrest brackets, as well as the pivotal axes of the pair of laterally spaced backrest brackets are located, and the terminal end portions of the lower end sections of the backrest brackets.
In this manner, when the telescopic rod is retracted by the single, dual-directional linear actuator motor, the backrest brackets, supporting the backrest section of the recliner chair, will be pivoted backwardly, the seat mounting brackets, supporting the seat section of the recliner chair, will remain at their original seating positions, while the footrest mounting brackets, supporting the footrest section of the recliner chair, will also be moved forwardly and upwardly toward their extended positions. To the contrary, when the telescopic rod of the single, dual-directional linear actuator is extended, the movements of the various mounting brackets and linkage members will be reversed such that the backrest section of the recliner chair, will be pivoted forwardly, the seat mounting brackets, supporting the seat section of the recliner chair, will again remain stationary at their original seating position, and the footrest mounting brackets, supporting the footrest section of the recliner chair, will also be moved rearwardly and downwardly toward their retracted positions. Continuing further, a protective cover, comprising a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side plates connected together by means of a transversely extending bottom plate, is mounted upon a pair of laterally spaced L-shaped mounting brackets or angle irons which are pivotally connected to the pair of laterally spaced, forwardmost linkage members as well as to the pair of laterally spaced footrest mounting brackets. In this manner, the pair of laterally spaced, upstanding side plates, of the protective cover, will not only cover the pair of laterally spaced, forwardmost linkage members such that the pair of laterally spaced, forwardmost linkage members are not readily exposed and thereby no longer pose or present a potential threat of injury to children or pets, but, in addition, internal portions of the recliner chair, defined between, for example, the inner surface of the footrest section and the forwardmost linkage members, will effectively be closed so as to prevent ingress by small children or pets.
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 more particularly to
Accordingly, it can be generally appreciated or understood that as the single, dual-directional linear actuator is, for example, contracted, the backrest section 102 will be moved from its upright position as illustrated within
In order to move the backrest section 102 of the chair 100, as well as the footrest section 106 of the chair 100, between their extended and retracted positions, a single, dual-directional linear actuator, along with a plurality of interconnected linkage members and mounting brackets, are provided in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. More particularly, as can best be appreciated from
With reference continuing to be made to
Continuing further, it is seen that each one of the pair of laterally spaced footrest mounting brackets 146,146 actually comprises an angle iron, similar to each one of the seat mounting brackets 144,144, wherein it is seen that each footrest mounting bracket 146,146 comprises a first mounting bracket section 180,180 which faces inwardly so that both first mounting bracket sections 180,180 effectively face each other, and a second mounting bracket section 182,182 which is disposed at substantially 90° with respect to the first mounting bracket sections 180,180. In addition, it is seen that the opposite ends of each one of the second mounting bracket sections 182,182 are provided with holes or apertures 184,184 through which suitable fasteners may be inserted so as to fixedly attach the footrest section 106 of the chair 100 to the footrest mounting brackets 146,146. Accordingly, still further, it is seen that the second opposite end of each one of the third linkage members 166,166 is pivotally connected to an upper end portion of each one of the inwardly facing mounting bracket sections 180,180 of the footrest mounting brackets 146,146 by means of pivot pins 186,186. It is additionally seen that fourth linkage members 188,188, are pivotally mounted upon a central or intermediate portion of each one of the third linkage members 166,166 by means of pivot pins 190,190. Each one of the fourth linkage members 188,188 is also seen to have a substantially L-shaped configuration, and it is seen that the upper end portion of each one of the fourth linkage members 188,188 is pivotally connected to the vertically oriented mounting bracket section 172,172 of each seat mounting bracket 144,144 by means of a pivot pin 192,192, while the lower end portion of each one of the fourth linkage members 188,188 is pivotally connected to one end of a protective cover mounting bracket 194,194 by means of a pivot pin 196,196. The opposite end of each one of the protective cover mounting brackets 194,194 is pivotally connected to a respective one of the inwardly facing mounting bracket sections 180,180 of the footrest mounting brackets 146,146 by means of pivot pins 198,198. Lastly, it is seen that each one of the fourth linkage members 188,188 is provided with a second limit pin 200,200, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter when the overall operation of the new and improved chair 100 is discussed in detail.
Continuing still further, and with additional reference being made to
More particularly, reverting back to
Having described substantially all of the structural components of the new and improved recliner chair 100 of the present invention, the operation of the same will now be described. More particularly, when the recliner chair 100 is disposed in the seating position as illustrated within
Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, a single linear actuator has been provided and operatively connected to both said backrest and said footrest for moving both said backrest between said upright and reclined positions, and said footrest between said retracted and extended positions. Accordingly, the overall actuator system of the recliner chair has been simplified, and the manufacturing costs accordingly reduced. In addition, by providing the protective covers so as to cover the forward end portions of the plurality of linkage members, as well as the protective cover mounting brackets connected to the forward end portions of the plurality of linkage members and portions of the footrest mounting brackets, the forward end portions of the plurality of linkage members are effectively covered, and, in addition, ingress into those regions, defined between the forward end portions of the plurality of linkage members and the footrest mounting brackets, is effectively blocked, so as to prevent small children or pets from getting parts of their bodies caught in the forward end portions of the plurality of linkage members, as well as within the regions defined between the forward end portions of the plurality of linkage members and the footrest mounting brackets, whereby small children or pets cannot be injured as the plurality of linkage members move the footrest between its retracted and extended positions.
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.