Linkage mechanism and reclining chair having same

Abstract

The invention discloses a linkage mechanism and a reclining chair having the same. The linkage mechanism has a forward mounting pivot for attaching the actuator to the footrest linkage and a rearward mounting unit for attaching the actuator to the lever link. The lever link is pivotally connected to the base mounting plate at the fulcrum pivot point. The fulcrum pivot attachment point is operably non-movable when the linkage mechanism is driven from one position to another position of the reclining chair, thereby, improving the operation stability of the reclining chair.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A linkage mechanism used in a reclining chair having an upright position, a TV position, and a fully reclined position, comprising:
 (a) a base mounting plate for fixedly mounting the linkage mechanism onto a base assembly of the reclining chair;   (b) a backrest mounting bracket pivotally coupled to the base mounting plate;   (c) a seat mounting link having a front end portion and a rear end portion pivotally coupled to the backrest mounting bracket, and disposed movably relative to the base mounting plate;   (d) a footrest linkage pivotally coupled to the seat mounting link,   (e) a footrest drive mechanism pivotally coupled to the footrest linkage, the base mounting plate and the backrest mounting bracket for driving the footrest linkage operably between a retracted position and an TV position; and   (f) a reclining drive mechanism pivotally coupled to the backrest mounting bracket, the base mounting plate and the footrest drive mechanism, for driving the reclining chair to be in a desired position that is corresponding to one of the upright position, the TV position, and the fully reclined position, wherein the reclining drive mechanism comprises:
 (i) a reclining link having a first end portion pivotally connected to the backrest mounting bracket; 
 (ii) a front pivot link having a first end portion pivotally connected to the second end portion of the reclining link and a second end portion pivotally connected to a first end portion of the base mounting plate; 
 (iii) a lever link having a first end portion and a second end portion defining a middle portion therebetween, wherein the middle portion of the lever link is pivotally connected to the base mounting plate to define a fulcrum pivot therein, wherein the fulcrum pivot is operably non-movable relative to the base mounting plate; 
 (iv) a connecting link having a first end portion pivotally connected to the reclining link at a position between the first and second end portions of the reclining link of the lever link, and a second end portion pivotally connected to the second portion of the lever link; and 
 (v) a rear motor drive bracket having a first end portion pivotally connected to the first end portion of the lever link, and a second end portion fixedly coupled to a linear actuator assembly for driving the lever link rotatably around the fulcrum pivot, so as to drive the reclining chair to be in the desired position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The linkage mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the footrest linkage comprises a scissor-type linkage. 
     
     
         3 . The linkage mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the footrest linkage comprises a first front footrest link, a second front footrest link, a first rear footrest link, a second rear footrest link and a footrest mounting bracket, each footrest link having a first end portion and a second end, wherein the first end portions of the first and second front footrest links and are pivotally connected to the footrest mounting bracket, and the second end portions of the first and second front footrest links and are pivotally connected to the first end portions of the first and second rear footrest links and, respectively, wherein the second front footrest link is pivotally connected to the first rear footrest link, wherein the second end portion of the first rear footrest link is pivotally connected to the front end portion of the seat mounting link, and wherein the second end portion of the second rear footrest link is pivotally connected to the seat mounting link at a position proximate to the front end portion of the seat mounting link. 
     
     
         4 . The linkage mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the footrest drive mechanism comprises:
 (a) a footrest drive link having a first end portion pivotally connected to pivotally connected to the second rear footrest link at a position proximate to the second end portion of the second rear footrest link, and a second end portion;   (b) a rear stop link having a first end portion fixed mounted to the backrest mounting bracket, a second end portion and a guide slot formed at the second end portion;   (c) a rear pivot plate pivotally coupled to the backrest mounting bracket, a second end portion of the base mounting plate, a second end portion of the footrest drive link via the guide slot of the rear stop link;   (d) a wheel link having a first end portion pivotally connected to the rear pivot plate; and   (e) a wheel control link having a first end portion and a second end portion pivotally connected to the base mounting plate and the wheel link, respectively.   
     
     
         5 . The linkage mechanism of  claim 3 , further comprising a front motor drive bracket having a first end portion pivotally connected to the first rear footrest link at a position between the first and second end portions of the first rear footrest link, and a second end portion fixedly coupled to the linear actuator assembly. 
     
     
         6 . A reclining chair comprising the linkage mechanism of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A reclining chair, comprising:
 a base assembly;   a pair of linkage mechanisms coupled to the base assembly, wherein the pair of linkage mechanisms is disposed on either side of the reclining chair, and is substantially identical and mirror images of one another, and is interconnected to one another; and   a linear actuator assembly coupled to the pair of linkage mechanisms for operably driving the reclining chair to be in a desired position that is corresponding to one of an upright position, a TV position, and a fully reclined position,   
       wherein each linkage mechanism comprising:
 (a) a base mounting plate for fixedly mounting the linkage mechanism onto the base assembly; 
 (b) a backrest mounting bracket pivotally coupled to the base mounting plate; 
 (c) a seat mounting link having a front end portion and a rear end portion pivotally coupled to the backrest mounting bracket, and disposed movably relative to the base mounting plate; 
 (c) a footrest linkage pivotally coupled to the seat mounting link, 
 (d) a footrest drive mechanism pivotally coupled to the footrest linkage, the base mounting plate and the backrest mounting bracket for driving the footrest linkage operably between a retracted position and an TV position; and 
 (e) a reclining drive mechanism pivotally coupled to the backrest mounting bracket, the base mounting plate and the footrest drive mechanism, for driving the reclining chair to be in a desired position that is corresponding to one of the upright position, the TV position, and the fully reclined position, wherein the reclining drive mechanism comprises:
 (i) a reclining link having a first end portion pivotally connected to the backrest mounting bracket; 
 (ii) a front pivot link having a first end portion pivotally connected to the second end portion of the reclining link and a second end portion pivotally connected to a first end portion of the base mounting plate; 
 (iii) a lever link having a first end portion and a second end portion defining a middle portion therebetween, wherein the middle portion of the lever link is pivotally connected to the base mounting plate to define a fulcrum pivot therein, wherein the fulcrum pivot is operably non-movable relative to the base mounting plate; 
 (iv) a connecting link having a first end portion pivotally connected to the reclining link at a position between the first and second end portions of the reclining link of the lever link, and a second end portion pivotally connected to the second portion of the lever link; and 
 (v) a rear motor drive bracket having a first end portion pivotally connected to the first end portion of the lever link, and a second end portion fixedly coupled to the linear actuator assembly for driving the lever link rotatably around the fulcrum pivot, so as to drive the reclining chair to be in the desired position. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The reclining chair of  claim 7 , wherein the footrest linkage comprises a scissor-type linkage. 
     
     
         9 . The reclining chair of  claim 8 , wherein the footrest linkage comprises a first front footrest link, a second front footrest link, a first rear footrest link, a second rear footrest link and a footrest mounting bracket, each footrest link having a first end portion and a second end, wherein the first end portions of the first and second front footrest links and are pivotally connected to the footrest mounting bracket, and the second end portions of the first and second front footrest links and are pivotally connected to the first end portions of the first and second rear footrest links and, respectively, wherein the second front footrest link is pivotally connected to the first rear footrest link, wherein the second end portion of the first rear footrest link is pivotally connected to the front end portion of the seat mounting link, and wherein the second end portion of the second rear footrest link is pivotally connected to the seat mounting link at a position proximate to the front end portion of the seat mounting link. 
     
     
         10 . The reclining chair of  claim 9 , wherein the footrest drive mechanism comprises:
 (a) a footrest drive link having a first end portion pivotally connected to pivotally connected to the second rear footrest link at a position proximate to the second end portion of the second rear footrest link, and a second end portion;   (b) a rear stop link having a first end portion fixed mounted to the backrest mounting bracket, a second end portion and a guide slot formed at the second end portion;   (c) a rear pivot plate pivotally coupled to the backrest mounting bracket, a second end portion of the base mounting plate, a second end portion of the footrest drive link via the guide slot of the rear stop link;   (d) a wheel link having a first end portion pivotally connected to the rear pivot plate; and   (e) a wheel control link having a first end portion and a second end portion pivotally connected to the base mounting plate and the wheel link, respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The reclining chair of  claim 9 , wherein the linkage mechanism further comprises a front motor drive bracket having a first end portion pivotally connected to the first rear footrest link at a position between the first and second end portions of the first rear footrest link, and a second end portion fixedly coupled to the linear actuator assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The reclining chair of  claim 7 , wherein the linear actuator assembly comprises:
 (a) a front motor drive tube having a first end and a second end rigidly attached to the second end portions of the front motor drive brackets of the pair of linkage mechanisms, respectively;   (b) a rear motor drive tube having a first end and a second end rigidly attached to the second end portions of the rear motor drive brackets of the pair of linkage mechanisms, respectively;   (c) a front motor pivot bracket pivotally attached to a middle portion of the front motor drive tube;   (d) a rear motor attaching bracket rigidly attached to a middle portion of the rear motor drive tube;   (e) an actuator housing disposed between the front motor pivot bracket and the rear motor attaching bracket;   (f) an actuator yoke rigidly attached to the rear motor attaching bracket; and   (g) a linear actuator, wherein the linear actuator and the actuator yoke  340  are slidably connected via the actuator housing  330 .   
     
     
         13 . The reclining chair of  claim 1 , wherein the base assembly comprises:
 (a) a pair of support frames disposed the lateral sides of the reclining chair in parallel; and   (b) a pair of rockers, wherein each rocker is mounted to a respective support frame, and has a mounting plate onto which the base mounting plate of the linkage mechanism is rigidly mounted.