Snap-On Leg Rest Mechanism For Furniture Member

Abstract

A snap-on leg rest mechanism for a furniture member includes a link having an elongated slot and opposed first and second sides. A polymeric bushing is slidably received in the elongated slot. The bushing includes opposed homogenously joined first and second legs elastically displaceable with respect to each other, the legs defining a U-shape having a shaft receiving aperture therebetween. Opposed first and second bushing wings each abut one of the first and second link sides when the bushing is receiving in the elongated slot. The first wing homogenously extends from a first bushing side and the second wing homogenously extends from a second bushing side. A shaft rotatably received in the shaft receiving aperture is retained by the bushing when the bushing is received in the elongated slot.

1 . A snap-on bushing adapted to rotatably connect a mechanism link of a furniture member to a shaft, comprising:
 opposed first and second homogenously joined legs that are elastically displaceable with respect to each other, the legs defining a U-shape having a shaft receiving aperture therebetween; and   opposed first and second wings adapted to abut opposite sides of a slot formed in the mechanism link, the first wing homogenously extending from a first side of the bushing and the second wing homogenously extending from a second side of the bushing.   
     
     
         2 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 1 , wherein a free end of each of the first and second legs defines a closure arm having an inner radius forming a portion of the shaft receiving aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 2 , wherein the free ends of the first and second legs are adapted to be slidably overlapped with respect to each other to allow the first and second legs to be elastically deflectable toward each other. 
     
     
         4 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second wings extends radially outward with respect to the shaft receiving aperture and defines an arc of curvature of approximately 45 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second wings are angularly offset from each other to define a total radius of curvature of approximately 180 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft receiving aperture defines an elongated aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 1 , further comprising a raised inner diameter ring radially inwardly extending into the shaft receiving aperture from the first and second legs. 
     
     
         8 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second legs includes a raised portion, the raised portions of the first and second opposed legs facing away from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 1 , comprising a polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . A leg rest device for a furniture member, comprising:
 a link having an elongated slot created proximate an engagement end and opposed first and second sides; and   a polymeric bushing adapted to be slidably received in the elongated slot, the bushing including:
 opposed homogenously joined first and second legs that are elastically displaceable with respect to each other, the legs defining a U-shape having a shaft receiving aperture therebetween; and 
 opposed first and second wings each adapted to abut one of the first and second sides of the link when the bushing is received in the elongated slot, the first wing homogenously extending from a first side of the bushing and the second wing homogenously extending from a second side of the bushing. 
   
     
     
         11 . The leg rest device of  claim 10 , further comprising a shaft rotatably received in the shaft receiving aperture and retained by the bushing when the bushing is received in the elongated slot of the link. 
     
     
         12 . The leg rest device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second legs includes a raised portion, the raised portions of the first and second legs facing away from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The leg rest device of  claim 12 , wherein the link further includes first and second recessed slots oppositely positioned about the elongated slot, the first and second recessed slots each adapted to receive one of the first and second raised portions to temporarily lock the bushing within the elongated slot and to temporarily retain the shaft between the first and second legs when the shaft is received in the shaft receiving aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The leg rest device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a free end of each of the first and second legs defining a closure arm having an inner radius forming a portion of the shaft receiving aperture;   wherein the free ends of the first and second legs are adapted to be slidably overlapped with respect to each other to allow the first and second legs to be elastically deflectable toward each other to disengage the first and second raised portions from the first and second recessed slots.   
     
     
         15 . The leg rest device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a raised inner diameter ring radially inwardly extending into the shaft receiving aperture from the first and second legs; and   a recessed circumferential slot created on the shaft, the slot adapted to receive the raised inner diameter ring to prevent longitudinal displacement of the bushing along the shaft.   
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A snap-on bushing adapted to rotatably connect a mechanism link of a furniture member to a shaft, comprising:
 opposed first and second homogenously joined legs that are elastically displaceable with respect to each other, the legs defining a U-shape having a shaft receiving aperture therebetween, each of the first and second legs including a raised portion having an angular face, the raised portion of the first leg facing oppositely away from the raised portion of the second leg; and   opposed first and second semi-spherical shaped wings adapted to abut opposite sides of a slot formed in the mechanism link, the first wing homogenously extending from a first side of the bushing and the second wing homogenously extending from a second side of the bushing, each of the first and second wings extending radially outward with respect to the shaft receiving aperture and defining an arc of curvature.   
     
     
         22 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 21 , further comprising a first closure arm extending from a free end of the first leg and a second closure arm extending from a free end of the second leg, the first and second closure arms elastically deflectable toward each other in each of a first arm closure arc and a second arm closure arc. 
     
     
         23 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second angular faces each comprise an outwardly facing surface defining an angle with respect to a side wall oppositely directed from the closure arm. 
     
     
         24 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second closure arms each include an inner radius defining a portion of the shaft receiving aperture. 
     
     
         25 . The snap-on bushing of  claim 22 , wherein each of the first and second closure arms define a thickness less than half of a bushing thickness to provide a sliding clearance between the first and second closure arms to permit the first and second legs to be elastically defected toward each other.