Rocking-reclining seating unit with motion lock

Abstract

A seating unit includes: a base configured to rest upon an underlying surface; a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base; an arm frame coupled and pivotable relative to the seat, the arm frame including camming surfaces configured for rolling contact with the base such that the seat has a fore-and-aft rocking motion relative to the base; a generally upright backrest positioned above the base adjacent a rear portion of the seat; a first ottoman; a rocking unit attached between the base and the arm frame; the rocking unit configured to control the rocking motion of the seat relative to the base; an ottoman extension mechanism that couples the arm frame and the at least one ottoman and is configured to enable the at least one ottoman to move between a retracted position, in which the at least one ottoman is positioned beneath the seat, and an extended position, in which the at least one ottoman is generally horizontally disposed and positioned forwardly of the seat; and a locking mechanism connected with the arm frame and movable between an unlocked position, in which the seat is free to rock relative to the base, and a locked position, in which the seat is prevented from rocking motion relative to the base.

1 . A seating unit comprising: 
 a base configured to rest upon an underlying surface;    a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base;    an arm frame coupled and pivotable relative to the seat, the arm frame including camming surfaces configured for rolling contact with the base such that the seat has a fore-and-aft rocking motion relative to the base;    a generally upright backrest positioned above the base adjacent a rear portion of the seat;    a first ottoman;    a rocking unit attached between the base and the arm frame, the rocking unit configured to control the rocking motion of the arm frame relative to the base;    an ottoman extension mechanism that couples the arm frame and the at least one ottoman and is configured to enable the at least one ottoman to move between a retracted position, in which the at least one ottoman is positioned beneath the seat, and an extended position, in which the at least one ottoman is generally horizontally disposed and positioned forwardly of the seat; and    a locking mechanism connected with the arm frame and movable between an unlocked position, in which the seat is free to rock relative to the base, and a locked position, in which the seat is prevented from rocking motion relative to the base.    
   
   
       2 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a backrest reclining mechanism that couples the seat and the backrest and is configured to enable the backrest to move from an upright position, in which the backrest forms a first angle with the seat, and a reclined position, in which the backrest forms a second angle with the seat, the second angle being greater than the first angle.  
   
   
       3 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is coupled with the ottoman extension mechanism, such that the locking mechanism is in the locked position when the ottoman extension mechanism is in the extended position.  
   
   
       4 . The seating unit defined in  claim 2 , wherein the ottoman extension mechanism is decoupled from the backrest reclining mechanism.  
   
   
       5 . The seating unit defined in  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a crank, and wherein the ottoman extension mechanism also includes the crank.  
   
   
       6 . The seating unit defined in  claim 5 , wherein the base includes a first bearing surface that contacts the camming surface, and further includes a second bearing surface, and wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking link that bears against the second bearing surface when the locking mechanism is in its locked position.  
   
   
       7 . The seating unit defined in  claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises: 
 a drive bar pivotally interconnected with the crank and with the locking link;    a brace pivotally interconnected with the locking link; and    a control link pivotally interconnected with the brace and with the base.    
   
   
       8 . The seating unit defined in  claim 7 , wherein the brace includes a stop pin that contacts the locking link when the locking mechanism is in the closed position.  
   
   
       9 . The seating unit defined in  claim 8 , wherein the locking link includes a V-shaped portion, and wherein the drive bar is pivotally interconnected with the locking link at a vertex of the V-shaped portion.  
   
   
       10 . The seating unit defined in  claim 9 , wherein the locking link includes a wheel that bears against the second bearing surface when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.  
   
   
       11 . The seating unit defined in  claim 10 , wherein the brace is pivotally interconnected at one end to the locking link, and wherein the stop pin of the brace is mounted to an opposite end of the brace.  
   
   
       12 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting link attached to the seat frame, wherein the ottoman extension mechanism and the locking mechanism are pivotally attached to the mounting link.  
   
   
       13 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a second ottoman.  
   
   
       14 . A seating unit comprising: 
 a base configured to rest upon an underlying surface;    a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base;    an arm frame coupled and pivotable relative to the seat, the arm frame including camming surfaces configured for rolling contact with the base such that the seat has a fore-and-aft rocking motion relative to the base;    a generally upright backrest positioned above the base adjacent a rear portion of the seat;    a first ottoman;    a rocking unit attached between the base and the arm frame, the rocking unit configured to control the rocking motion of the arm frame relative to the base;    a backrest reclining mechanism that couples the arm frame and the backrest and is configured to enable the backrest to move from an upright position, in which the backrest forms a first angle with the seat, and a reclined position, in which the backrest forms a second angle with the seat, the second angle being greater than the first angle;    an ottoman extension mechanism that couples the arm frame and the first ottoman and is configured to enable the first ottoman to move between a retracted position, in which the first ottoman is positioned beneath the seat, and an extended position, in which the first ottoman is generally horizontally disposed and positioned forwardly of the seat, wherein the ottoman extension mechanism is decoupled from the backrest reclining mechanism; and    a locking mechanism connected with the seat frame and movable between an unlocked position, in which the seat is free to rock relative to the base, and a locked position, in which the seat is prevented from rocking motion relative to the base, the locking mechanism including: 
 a crank;  
 a locking link;  
 a drive bar pivotally interconnected with the crank and with the locking link;  
 a brace pivotally interconnected with the locking link; and  
 a control link pivotally interconnected with the brace and with the base.  
   
   
   
       15 . The seating unit defined in  claim 14 , wherein the base includes a first bearing surface that contacts the camming surface, and further includes a second bearing surface, and wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking link that bears against the second bearing surface when the locking mechanism is in its locked position.  
   
   
       16 . The seating unit defined in  claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism is coupled with the ottoman extension mechanism, such that the locking mechanism is in the locked position when the ottoman extension mechanism is in the extended position.  
   
   
       17 . The seating unit defined in  claim 14 , wherein the ottoman extension mechanism includes the crank.  
   
   
       18 . A seating unit comprising: 
 a base configured to rest upon an underlying surface;    a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base;    an arm frame coupled to and moveable with the seat, the arm frame including side panels having integral camming surfaces configured for rolling contact with the base such that the seat has a fore-and-aft rocking motion relative to the base;    a generally upright backrest positioned above the base adjacent a rear portion of the seat;    a first ottoman;    a rocking unit attached between the base and the arm frame, the rocking unit configured to control the rocking motion of the arm frame relative to the base; and    a backrest reclining mechanism that couples the arm frame and the backrest and is configured to enable the backrest to move from an upright position, in which the backrest forms a first angle with the seat, and a reclined position, in which the backrest forms a second angle with the seat, the second angle being greater than the first angle.    
   
   
       19 . The seating unit defined in  claim 18 , wherein the arm frame includes at least one rear cross-member that is mounted to and spans the distance between the side panels.  
   
   
       20 . The seating unit defined in  claim 18 , wherein the rocking unit is attached between the base and the side panel.  
   
   
       21 . The seating unit defined in  claim 18 , wherein the arm frame includes arms, and wherein the side panels form inboard surfaces of the arms.  
   
   
       22 . A seating unit comprising: 
 a base configured to rest upon an underlying surface;    a generally horizontally-disposed seat positioned above the base;    an arm frame coupled and pivotable relative to the seat, the arm frame including camming surfaces configured for rolling contact with the base such that the seat has a fore-and-aft rocking motion relative to the base;    a generally upright backrest positioned above the base adjacent a rear portion of the seat;    a rocking unit attached between the base and the arm frame, the rocking unit configured to control the rocking motion of the arm frame relative to the base; and    a backrest reclining mechanism that couples the arm frame and the backrest and is configured to enable the backrest to move from an upright position, in which the backrest forms a first angle with the seat, and a reclined position, in which the backrest forms a second angle with the seat, the second angle being greater than the first angle;    wherein the chair is devoid of an extendable ottoman.