Three motor recliner mechanism with independent seat, back and ottoman

Abstract

A recliner mechanism is provided with independently operable motors. Each motor may effect an independent movement. For example, three motors may be provided: a seat pitch motor causing a rotation of the seat to change the seat pitch in relation to the support surface on which the recliner sits; an ottoman motor to extend and retract an ottoman; and a back motor causing a rotation of the back in relation to the seat. And, due to an improved positioning of the pivot point for the seat in relation to the pivot point of the ottoman motor; and positioning of the pivot point of the seat in relation to the pivot point of the back rotation motor, the independent operation of each of the motors is achieved without the need for any special, coordinated programming of the motors.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recliner mechanism for a seating unit, comprising:
 a base;   a base bracket coupled to the base, the base bracket having a seat pitch motor pivot point;   a seat plate pivotally coupled to the base bracket at the seat pitch pivot point;   a seat pitch motor operably coupled between the base and the seat plate, the seat pitch motor operable to rotate the seat plate with respect to the base bracket about the seat pitch pivot point;   an ottoman linkage coupled to the seat plate;   an ottoman motor pivotally coupled to the base at an ottoman motor pivot point, the ottoman motor operably coupled between the base and the ottoman linkage;   wherein the seat pitch pivot point is in close proximity to the ottoman motor pivot point, allowing independent operation of the ottoman motor and the seat pitch motor.   
     
     
         2 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a back bracket pivotally coupled to the seat plate; and   a recline motor pivotally coupled to the base on one end and to the back bracket on the other end; the recline motor operable to recline the back bracket independently of the ottoman motor and the seat pitch motor, allowing independent recline of the back bracket.   
     
     
         3 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot bracket fixedly coupled to the seat plate, the seat plate pivotally coupled to the base bracket at the pivot bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the ottoman motor pivot point is positioned closer to a back bracket than the seat pitch pivot point. 
     
     
         5 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein a drive control bracket is fixedly coupled to the back bracket, and wherein the recline motor is pivotally coupled to the back bracket via the drive control bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein a drive control bracket is integrally formed with the back bracket, and wherein the recline motor is pivotally coupled to the back bracket via the drive control bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the ottoman motor pivot point is positioned closer to the base than the seat pitch pivot point. 
     
     
         8 . A recliner mechanism for a seating unit, comprising:
 a base;   a base bracket coupled to the base, the base bracket having a seat pitch pivot point;   a seat plate pivotally coupled to the base bracket at the seat pitch pivot point;   a seat pitch motor operably coupled between the base and the seat plate;   an ottoman linkage coupled to the seat plate;   an ottoman motor pivotally coupled to the seat plate at an ottoman motor pivot point;   a back bracket pivotally coupled to the seat plate; and   a recline motor pivotally coupled to the base on one end and to the back bracket on the other end; the recline motor operable to recline the back bracket independently of the ottoman motor and the seat pitch motor, allowing independent recline of the back bracket;   wherein a location of the seat pitch pivot point and the location of the ottoman motor pivot point allows for independent operation of the ottoman motor and the seat pitch motor, such that the back bracket, the seat pitch, and the ottoman linkage are all operable independently from one another.   
     
     
         9 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the seat pitch motor is operable to rotate the seat plate with respect to the base bracket about the seat pitch pivot point. 
     
     
         10 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the ottoman motor is operably coupled between the seat plate and the ottoman linkage. 
     
     
         11 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the ottoman motor pivot point is positioned closer to a back bracket than the seat pitch pivot point. 
     
     
         12 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the ottoman motor pivot point is positioned closer to the base than the seat pitch pivot point. 
     
     
         13 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the base bracket further comprises a stop bracket having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein the upper end of the stop bracket supports a pitch tube, restricting movement of the seat plate. 
     
     
         14 . A recliner mechanism for a seating unit, comprising:
 a base having a pair of spaced apart base rails and a pair of cross-tubes;   a base bracket coupled to the base;   a seat plate pivotally coupled to the base bracket at a seat pitch pivot point;   a seat pitch motor operably coupled to rotate the seat plate with respect to the base bracket about the seat pitch pivot point;   an ottoman linkage coupled to the seat plate;   an ottoman motor operably coupled between the base and the ottoman linkage;   wherein the ottoman motor and the seat pitch motor are independently operable from one another.   
     
     
         15 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 14 , further comprising a back bracket having a drive control bracket fixedly coupled thereto, the back bracket being pivotally coupled to the seat plate; and
 a recline motor pivotally coupled to the base on one end and to the back bracket on the other end; the recline motor operable to recline the back bracket independently of the ottoman motor and the seat pitch motor, allowing independent recline of the back bracket.   
     
     
         16 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the ottoman motor pivot point is positioned closer to a back bracket than the seat pitch pivot point. 
     
     
         17 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the ottoman motor pivot point is positioned closer to the base than the seat pitch pivot point. 
     
     
         18 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the base bracket is formed in a shape of a parallelogram. 
     
     
         19 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 14 , further comprising a brace affixed between the base rail and an upper end of the base bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The recliner mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein each of the seat pitch motor, the ottoman motor, and the recline motor are independently operable, such the ottoman linkage, the back recline and the seat pitch are each adjustable independently from each other.