Seating unit convertible into chaise

Abstract

A seating unit includes: a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface, the frame including a fixed seat, the frame further including a chaise storage cavity beneath the seat; a backrest attached to the frame; a chaise unit including a base and a chaise panel; a chaise extending assembly attached to the frame and to the chaise unit, the chaise extending assembly configured to move the chaise between a retracted position, in which the chaise unit is positioned in the chaise storage cavity, and an extended position, in which the chaise unit is positioned forwardly of the seat; and a chaise panel raising mechanism attached to the chaise unit base and to the chaise panel. The mechanism is configured to raise the chaise panel from a lowered position to a raised position, wherein in the raised position the chaise panel is located forwardly of the seat and is declined relative to the underlying surface. This configuration can enable a conventional seating unit to be converted into a chaise complete with a declined chaise panel.

1 . A seating unit, comprising: 
 a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface, the frame including a fixed seat, the frame further including a chaise storage cavity beneath the seat;    a backrest attached to the frame;    a chaise unit including a base and a chaise panel;    a chaise extending assembly attached to the frame and to the chaise unit, the chaise extending assembly configured to move the chaise between a retracted position, in which the chaise unit is positioned in the chaise storage cavity, and an extended position, in which the chaise unit is positioned forwardly of the seat; and    a chaise panel raising mechanism attached to the chaise unit base and to the chaise panel, the mechanism configured to raise the chaise panel from a lowered position to a raised position, wherein in the raised position the chaise panel is located forwardly of the seat and is declined relative to the underlying surface.    
   
   
       2 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the backrest is attached to the frame via a reclining mechanism that moves the backrest between upright and reclined positions.  
   
   
       3 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the seat is inclined relative to the underlying surface.  
   
   
       4 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the chaise unit includes wheels, and wherein the chaise extending assembly is configured such that the chaise unit rolls when moving between the retracted and extended positions.  
   
   
       5 . The seating unit defined in  claim 4 , wherein the chaise extending assembly includes rails fixed to the frame that engage the wheels from the chaise unit.  
   
   
       6 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the chaise unit base includes a front wall, and wherein the chaise panel rests on an upper edge of the front wall when the chaise panel is in the raised position.  
   
   
       7 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the chaise raising mechanism is configured such that, when the chaise panel is moving from the lowered to the raised position, initially a forward end of the chaise panel is positioned above a rear end of the chaise panel.  
   
   
       8 . The seating unit defined in  claim 7 , wherein the chaise raising mechanism includes front and rear control links pivotally interconnected with the chaise base, and wherein the front control link first rotates in a first rotative direction, then in a second opposite rotative direction, then again in the first rotative direction as the chaise panel moves from the lowered to the raised position.  
   
   
       9 . A seating unit, comprising: 
 a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface, the frame including a fixed seat, the frame further including a chaise storage cavity beneath the seat;    a backrest attached to the frame, the backrest being attached to the frame via a reclining mechanism that moves the backrest between upright and reclined positions;    a chaise unit including a base and a chaise panel;    a chaise extending assembly attached to the frame and to the chaise unit, the chaise extending assembly configured to move the chaise between a retracted position, in which the chaise unit is positioned in the chaise storage cavity, and an extended position, in which the chaise unit is positioned forwardly of the seat; and    a chaise panel raising mechanism attached to the chaise unit base and to the chaise panel, the mechanism configured to raise the chaise panel from a lowered position to a raised position, wherein in the raised position the chaise panel is located forwardly of the seat.    
   
   
       10 . The seating unit defined in  claim 9 , wherein the seat is inclined relative to the underlying surface.  
   
   
       11 . The seating unit defined in  claim 10 , wherein, when the chaise panel is in the raised position, the chaise panel is declined relative to the underlying surface.  
   
   
       12 . The seating unit defined in  claim 9 , wherein the chaise unit includes wheels, and wherein the chaise extending assembly is configured such that the chaise unit rolls when moving between the retracted and extended positions.  
   
   
       13 . The seating unit defined in  claim 12 , wherein the chaise extending assembly includes rails fixed to the frame that engage the wheels from the chaise unit.  
   
   
       14 . The seating unit defined in  claim 9 , wherein the chaise unit base includes a front wall, and wherein the chaise panel rests on an upper edge of the front wall when the chaise panel is in the raised position.  
   
   
       15 . The seating unit defined in  claim 9 , wherein the chaise raising mechanism is configured such that, when the chaise panel is moving from the lowered to the raised position, initially a forward end of the chaise panel is positioned above a rear end of the chaise panel.  
   
   
       16 . The seating unit defined in  claim 15 , wherein the chaise raising mechanism includes front and rear control links pivotally interconnected with the chaise base, and wherein the front control link first rotates in a first rotative direction, then in a second opposite rotative direction, then again in the first rotative direction as the chaise panel moves from the lowered to the raised position.  
   
   
       17 . A seating unit, comprising: 
 a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface, the frame including a fixed seat, the frame further including a chaise storage cavity beneath the seat;    a backrest attached to the frame via a reclining mechanism that moves the backrest between upright and reclined positions;    a chaise unit including a base and a chaise panel;    a chaise extending assembly attached to the frame and to the chaise unit, the chaise extending assembly configured to move the chaise between a retracted position, in which the chaise unit is positioned in the chaise storage cavity, and an extended position, in which the chaise unit is positioned forwardly of the seat; and    a chaise panel raising mechanism attached to the chaise unit base and to the chaise panel, the mechanism configured to raise the chaise panel from a lowered position to a raised position, wherein in the raised position the chaise panel is located forwardly of the seat and is declined relative to the underlying surface;    wherein the chaise raising mechanism is configured such that, when the chaise panel is moving from the lowered to the raised position, initially a forward end of the chaise panel is positioned above a rear end of the chaise panel.    
   
   
       18 . The seating unit defined in  claim 17 , wherein the seat is inclined relative to the underlying surface.  
   
   
       19 . The seating unit defined in  claim 17 , wherein the chaise raising mechanism is configured such that, when the chaise panel is moving from the lowered to the raised position, initially a forward end of the chaise panel is positioned above a rear end of the chaise panel.  
   
   
       20 . The seating unit defined in  claim 19 , wherein the chaise raising mechanism includes front and rear control links pivotally interconnected with the chaise base, and wherein the front control link first rotates in a first rotative direction, then in a second opposite rotative direction, then again in the first rotative direction as the chaise panel moves from the lowered to the raised position.