High-leg recliner seating mechanism

Abstract

A high-leg seating unit, and a six-bar ottoman linkage for use on a high leg seating unit are provided that allow a higher leg height, a lower seat height, while obscuring most of the ottoman linkage from view in the closed position.

1 . A high leg seating unit moveable between closed, extended and fully reclined positions, the seating unit comprising;
 two sides spaced from one another, each side having a lower edge and an upper edge spaced apart from the lower edge;   a seat extending between the two sides;   a plurality of extendable ottoman support brackets;   a chair back extending upwardly from a rearward edge of the seat;   a pair of side plates, each side plate coupled to a corresponding one of the two sides;   a linkage mechanism supported between the side plates and coupling at least the seat, the plurality of ottoman support brackets, and the chair back, the linkage mechanism having a six-bar ottoman linkage operable to extend the plurality of ottoman support brackets from the closed position, with the ottoman linkage disposed beneath the seat to the extended position, with the ottoman linkage extending and supporting the plurality of ottoman brackets in front of the seat;   wherein the linkage mechanism has a height in the closed position and wherein the height is below 200 millimeters; and   a motor coupled to the linkage mechanism to move the seating unit between the closed, extended and fully reclined positions.   
     
     
         2 . The seating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage mechanism further comprises a back bracket and a seat plate, the back bracket pivotally coupled to the seat plate, and a rear recline linkage, wherein the rear recline linkage is located rearwardly of the pivot point of the back bracket and the seat plate. 
     
     
         3 . The seating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the six-bar ottoman linkage comprises a front ottoman link pivotally coupled to the seat plate on a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, and wherein, in the closed position, a line extending from the first end of the front ottoman link to the second end of the front ottoman link forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 50 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The seating unit of  claim 3 , wherein the line extending from the first end of the front ottoman link to the second end of the front ottoman link, in the closed position, forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 40 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The seating unit of  claim 4 , wherein the second end of the front ottoman link is pivotally coupled to an outside ottoman link of the six-bar linkage, and wherein the line extending from the point of pivotal connection between the first end of the front ottoman link and the seat rail to the point of pivotal connection between the second end of the front ottoman link and the outside ottoman link forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 50 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The seating unit of  claim 1 , wherein the six-bar ottoman linkage comprises a rear ottoman link pivotally coupled to the seat plate on a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, and wherein, in the closed position, a line extending from the first end of the rear ottoman link to the second end of the rear ottoman link forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The seating unit of  claim 6 , wherein the line extending from the first end of the rear ottoman link to the second end of the rear ottoman link, in the closed position, forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 35 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The seating unit of  claim 3 , wherein the length of the front ottoman link from the first end to the second end is less than 7.5 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The seating unit of  claim 6 , wherein the length of the rear ottoman link from the first end to the second end is less than 6 inches. 
     
     
         10 . A six-bar ottoman linkage usable on a high leg seating unit, the six-bar ottoman linkage comprising:
 a front ottoman link pivotally coupled to a seat rail at an upper pivot point;   a rear ottoman link pivotally coupled to the seat rail rearwardly of the pivotal connection between the front ottoman link and the seat rail;   an upper ottoman link pivotally coupled to at least the front ottoman link and the rear ottoman link;   a mid-ottoman link pivotally coupled to the upper ottoman link;   an outside ottoman link pivotally coupled to the front ottoman link and the mid-ottoman link;   a lower ottoman link pivotally coupled to the mid-ottoman link;   a main ottoman bracket pivotally coupled to the outside ottoman link and the main ottoman bracket;   a flipper ottoman bracket pivotally coupled to the lower ottoman link; and   a drive link pivotally coupled between the flipper ottoman bracket and the main ottoman bracket;   wherein the six-bar linkage is moveable between at least a closed, retracted position and an open, extended position;   wherein the ottoman linkage has a height measured from the upper pivot point to a lower-most extent of the ottoman linkage in the closed position, and wherein the mechanism height is less than 200 millimeters.   
     
     
         11 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 10 , wherein the front ottoman link is less than 7.5 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 10 , wherein the rear ottoman link is less than 6 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 10 , wherein the mechanism height is less than 180 millimeters in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 10 , wherein a line extending from the upper pivot point to the point of connection between the front ottoman link and the outside ottoman link, in the closed position, forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 50 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 10 , wherein a line extending from the upper pivot point to the point of connection between the front ottoman link and the outside ottoman link, in the closed position, forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 40 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 10 , wherein, in the closed position, a line extending from the pivotal connection of the rear ottoman link and the seat rail to the pivotal connection of the rear ottoman link and the upper ottoman link forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 10 , wherein, in the closed position, a line extending from the pivotal connection of the rear ottoman link and the seat rail to the pivotal connection of the rear ottoman link and the upper ottoman link forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 35 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . A low-profile ottoman linkage usable on a high leg seating unit, the ottoman linkage comprising:
 a six-bar linkage, comprising a rear ottoman link pivotally coupled to a seat rail at an upper pivot point and to another link of the six-bar linkage at a lower pivot point, the six-bar linkage moveable between at least a closed, retracted position and an open, extended position;   wherein the six-bar linkage supports a plurality of ottomans in the extended position; and   wherein a line extending from the upper pivot point to the lower pivot point forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 35 degrees when the six-bar linkage is in the closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 18 , wherein the ottoman linkage further comprises a front ottoman link pivotally coupled to the seat rail, forwardly of the pivotal connection of the rear ottoman link and the seat rail, at a second upper pivot point and to another link of the six-bar linkage at a second lower pivot point, and wherein a line extending from the second upper pivot point to the second lower pivot point forms an angle relative to horizontal of less than 40 degrees when the six-bar linkage is in the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The ottoman linkage of  claim 18 , wherein the ottoman linkage has a mechanism height measured from the upper pivot point to a lower-most extent of the ottoman linkage in the closed position, and wherein the mechanism height is less than 180 millimeters.