Power actuated reclining chair with wall-hugger function

Abstract

A reclining chair has a backrest and a seat, which includes a front seat portion and a rear seat portion. The chair is carried on a mechanized base. The base carries an actuator, which is coupled to a reclining linkage assembly. The reclining linkage assembly applies force in response to operation of the actuator to advance the seat and backrest forward while also tilting the backrest rearward from a generally upright position to a generally reclined position. Advancing the seat and backrest forward while the backrest reclines, keeps the distance between the backrest and an adjacent wall generally constant, regardless of whether the backrest is in the generally upright position and in the generally reclined position. The actuator can also operate a lifting linkage assembly for lifting the seat and tilting the seat forward to assist exit from the chair. A locking mechanism resists extension of an associated footrest linkage when the seat is lifted and tilted forward.

We claim:  
     
         1 . In a reclining chair having a backrest, a seat including a rear seat portion, and a base, the improvement comprising: 
 an actuator on the base, and    a reclining linkage assembly coupled to the actuator and including a rear thrust bar on the base adapted to be coupled to the backrest and the back portion of the seat, the reclining linkage assembly being operable, in response to operation of the actuator, for applying a pulling force to the rear thrust bar to pull the seat and backrest forward while tilting the backrest rearward from a generally upright position to a generally reclined position, whereby distance between the backrest and an adjacent wall remains generally constant when the backrest is in the generally upright position and in the generally reclined position.    
     
     
         2 . A reclining chair according to  claim 1  wherein the reclining linkage assembly includes 
 an actuating thrust bar coupled to the actuator to which the actuator applies force during operation, and  
 a rear thrust link coupling the actuating thrust bar to the rear thrust bar to apply the pulling force to the rear thrust bar in response to the force applied by the actuator to the actuating thrust bar.  
 
     
     
         3 . A reclining chair according to  claim 2   wherein the force applied by the actuator to the actuating thrust bar pivots the actuating thrust bar about an axis, and    wherein the rear thrust link applies the pulling force to the rear thrust link in response to pivot of the actuating thrust bar.    
     
     
         4 . In a reclining chair having a backrest, a seat including a rear seat portion, and a base, the improvement comprising: 
 an actuator on the base operable in a first mode and in a second mode,    a lifting linkage assembly on the base coupled to the seat and the actuator and being operable, when the actuator operates in the first mode, for lifting the seat and tilting the seat forward to assist exit from the chair, and    a reclining linkage assembly coupled to the actuator and including a rear thrust bar on the base coupled to the backrest and the back portion of the seat, the reclining linkage assembly being operable, when the actuator operates in the second mode, for applying a pulling force on the rear thrust bar to pull the seat and backrest forward while tilting the backrest rearward from a generally upright position to a generally reclined position, whereby distance between the backrest and an adjacent wall remains generally constant when the backrest is in the generally upright position and in the generally reclined position.    
     
     
         5 . A reclining chair according to  claim 1  or  4  
 wherein the actuator operates in a first direction during the first mode and in a second direction during the second mode.  
 
     
     
         6 . A reclining chair according to  claim 5   wherein, during operation in the first direction, the actuator extends in length, and    wherein, during operation in the second direction, the actuator retracts in length.    
     
     
         7 . A reclining chair according to  claim 6  wherein the lifting linkage assembly includes a front thrust bar coupled to the actuator to lift the seat in response to force applied by the actuator as it extends in length.  
     
     
         8 . A reclining chair according to  claim 7  wherein the reclining linkage assembly includes a rear thrust link coupling the front thrust bar to the rear thrust bar to apply the pulling force to the rear thrust bar in response to the force applied by the actuator to the front thrust bar as the actuator retracts in length.  
     
     
         9 . A reclining chair according to  claim 8   wherein force applied by the actuator to the front thrust bar as the actuator retracts in length pivots the front thrust bar about an axis, and    wherein the rear thrust link applies the pulling force to the rear thrust link in response to pivot of the front thrust bar.    
     
     
         10 . A reclining chair according to  claim 1  or  4  
 wherein the reclining linkage assembly is operable for also tilting the seat rearward while pulling the seat and backrest forward.  
 
     
     
         11 . A reclining chair according to  claim 1  or  4  
 wherein the reclining linkage assembly is operable for tilting the backrest rearward relative to the seat while pulling the seat and backrest forward.  
 
     
     
         12 . A reclining chair according to  claim 1  or  4  
 wherein the reclining linkage assembly includes 
 an upper support coupled to the seat and backrest,  
 a lower support coupled to the base, and  
 a seat linkage coupling the upper support to the lower support for swinging the upper support forward relative to the lower support, and  
 
 wherein the rear thrust bar applies the pulling force to the upper support to swing the upper support forward.  
 
     
     
         13 . A reclining chair according to  claim 12   wherein the rear thrust bar is attached to the seat linkage to apply the pulling force through the seat linkage to the upper support.    
     
     
         14 . A reclining chair according to  claim 1  or  4  
 wherein the seat and backrest comprise an assembled unit when out of association with the mechanized base.  
 
     
     
         15 . A reclining chair according to  claim 1  or  4  
 wherein the seat and backrest comprise unassembled components when out of association with the mechanized base.  
 
     
     
         16 . A reclining chair according to  claim 1  or  4  
 and further including a footrest linkage operable between a retracted position and an extended position, and  
 wherein the reclining linkage assembly includes an intermediate link coupled to the footrest linkage for moving the footrest linkage from the retracted toward the extended position in response to pulling the seat and backrest forward.  
 
     
     
         17 . In a reclining chair having a backrest, a seat including a front seat portion, and a base, the improvement comprising: 
 an actuator on the base, and    a reclining linkage assembly coupled to the actuator and including a forward thrust bar on the base adapted to be coupled to the front portion of the seat, the reclining linkage assembly being operable, in response to operation of the actuator, for applying a pushing force to the forward thrust bar to advance the seat and backrest forward while tilting the backrest rearward from a generally upright position to a generally reclined position, whereby distance between the backrest and an adjacent wall remains generally constant when the backrest is in the generally upright position and in the generally reclined position.    
     
     
         18 . A reclining chair according to  claim 17  wherein the reclining linkage assembly includes 
 a actuating thrust bar coupled to the actuator to which the actuator applies force during operation, and  
 a forward thrust link coupling the actuating thrust bar to the forward thrust bar to apply the pushing force to the forward thrust bar in response to the force applied by the actuator to the actuating thrust bar.  
 
     
     
         19 . A reclining chair according to  claim 18   wherein the force applied by the actuator to the actuating thrust bar pivots the actuating thrust bar about an axis, and    wherein the forward thrust link applies the pushing force to the forward thrust link in response to pivot of the actuating thrust bar.    
     
     
         20 . In a reclining chair having a backrest, a seat including a front seat portion, and a base, the improvement comprising: 
 an actuator on the base operable in a first mode and in a second mode,    a lifting linkage assembly on the base coupled to the seat and the actuator and being operable, when the actuator operates in the first mode, for lifting the seat and tilting the seat forward to assist exit from the chair, and    a reclining linkage assembly coupled to the actuator and including a forward thrust bar on the base coupled to the front portion of the seat, the reclining linkage assembly being operable, when the actuator operates in the second mode, for applying a pushing force on the forward thrust bar to push the seat and backrest forward while tilting the backrest rearward from a generally upright position to a generally reclined position, whereby distance between the backrest and an adjacent wall remains generally constant when the backrest is in the generally upright position and in the generally reclined position.    
     
     
         21 . A reclining chair according to  claim 17  or  20  
 wherein the actuator operates in a first direction during the first mode and in a second direction during the second mode.  
 
     
     
         22 . A reclining chair according to  claim 21   wherein, during operation in the first direction, the actuator extends in length, and    wherein, during operation in the second direction, the actuator retracts in length.    
     
     
         23 . A reclining chair according to  claim 22  wherein the lifting linkage assembly includes a actuating thrust bar coupled to the actuator to lift the seat in response to force applied by the actuator as it extends in length.  
     
     
         24 . A reclining chair according to  claim 23  wherein the reclining linkage assembly includes a forward thrust link coupling the actuating thrust bar to the forward thrust bar to apply the pushing force to the forward thrust bar in response to the force applied by the actuator to the actuating thrust bar as the actuator retracts in length.  
     
     
         25 . A reclining chair according to  claim 24   wherein force applied by the actuator to the actuating thrust bar as the actuator retracts in length pivots the actuating thrust bar about an axis, and    wherein the forward thrust link applies the pushing force to the forward thrust link in response to pivot of the actuating thrust bar.    
     
     
         26 . A reclining chair according to  claim 17  or  20  
 wherein the reclining linkage assembly is operable for also tilting the seat rearward while pulling the seat and backrest forward.  
 
     
     
         27 . A reclining chair according to  claim 17  or  20  
 wherein the reclining linkage assembly is operable for tilting the backrest rearward relative to the seat while pulling the seat and backrest forward.  
 
     
     
         28 . A reclining chair according to  claim 17  or  20  
 wherein the reclining linkage assembly includes 
 an upper support coupled to the seat and backrest,  
 a lower support coupled to the base, and  
 a seat linkage coupling the upper support to the lower support for swinging the upper support forward relative to the lower support, and  
 
 wherein the forward thrust bar applies the pushing force to the upper support to swing the upper support forward.  
 
     
     
         29 . A reclining chair according to  claim 28   wherein the forward thrust bar is attached to the seat linkage to apply the pushing force through the seat linkage to the upper support.    
     
     
         30 . A reclining chair according to  claim 17  or  20  
 wherein the seat and backrest comprise an assembled unit when out of association with the mechanized base.  
 
     
     
         31 . A reclining chair according to  claim 17  or  20  
 wherein the seat and backrest comprise unassembled components when out of association with the mechanized base.  
 
     
     
         32 . A reclining chair according to  claim 17  or  20  
 and further including a footrest linkage operable between a retracted position and an extended position, and  
 wherein the reclining linkage assembly includes an intermediate link coupled to the footrest linkage for moving the footrest linkage from the retracted toward the extended position in response to pulling the seat and backrest forward.  
 
     
     
         33 . A chair comprising 
 a seat,    a footrest linkage associated with the seat to operable between a retracted position and an extended position,    a base,    an actuator on the base,    a lifting linkage assembly on the base coupled to the seat and the actuator and being operable, in response to operation of the actuator, for lifting the seat and tilting the seat forward to assist exit from the chair, and    a mechanism to resist movement of the footrest linkage out of the retracted position when the seat is lifted and tilted forward.    
     
     
         34 . A chair according to  claim 33   wherein the lifting linkage assembly includes a lift arm that pivots in response to operation of the actuator, and    wherein the mechanism is coupled to the lift arm.    
     
     
         35 . A chair according to  claim 34   wherein the mechanism includes an appendage on the lift arm that pivots into interference with the footrest linkage as the lift arm pivots in response to operation of the actuator.