Reclining seating unit with wall-proximity capability

Abstract

A seating unit includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat; a backrest; an ottoman; and a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat, backrest and the ottoman. The reclining mechanism comprises a series of pivotally interconnected links configured and arranged to control the movement of the seating unit between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed and positioned above the base, the backrest defines a first backrest angle relative to horizontal and is positioned above a rear portion of the base, and the ottoman is positioned below the seat and above a forward portion of the base, a TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed and positioned forwardly of the base and the seat, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest defines a second angle relative to horizontal that is less than the first angle. The backrest and seat are substantially stationary relative to the base as the seating unit moves between the upright and fully reclined positions. An uppermost portion of the backrest moves no more than 4 inches rearward relative to the base as the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position. In this configuration, the seating unit can provide wall-proximity capability.

1 . A seating unit, comprising:
 a base configured to rest on an underlying surface;   a seat;   a backrest;   an ottoman; and   a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat, backrest and at least one ottoman, the reclining mechanism comprising a series of pivotally interconnected links configured and arranged to control the movement of the seating unit between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed and positioned above the base, the backrest defines a first backrest angle relative to horizontal and is positioned above a rear portion of the base, and the ottoman is positioned below the seat and above a forward portion of the base, a TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed and positioned forwardly of the base and the seat, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest defines a second angle relative to horizontal that is less than the first angle;   wherein the backrest and seat are substantially stationary relative to the base as the seating unit moves between the upright and fully reclined positions; and   wherein an uppermost portion of the backrest moves no more than 4 inches rearward relative to the base as the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position.   
     
     
         2 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an electrically-powered actuator that drives the seating unit between the upright, TV and fully reclined positions. 
     
     
         3 . The seating unit defined in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The seating unit defined in  claim 3 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes a front swing link pivotally mounted to the base and to the seat and a rear swing link pivotally mounted to the base and to the seat. 
     
     
         5 . The seating unit defined in  claim 4 , wherein the actuator is pivotally attached to a bracket fixed to the rear swing link. 
     
     
         6 . The seating unit defined in  claim 4 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes a backpost fixed to the backrest and pivotally attached to the seat. 
     
     
         7 . The seating unit defined in  claim 6 , wherein the reclining mechanism further includes a recline link pivotally attached to the backpost and to the rear swing link. 
     
     
         8 . The seating unit defined in  claim 3 , wherein the linear actuator moves forward relative to the base as the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position. 
     
     
         9 . A seating unit, comprising:
 a base configured to rest on an underlying surface;   a seat;   a backrest;   an ottoman; and   a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat, backrest and at least one ottoman, the reclining mechanism comprising a series of pivotally interconnected links configured and arranged to control the movement of the seating unit between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed and positioned above the base, the backrest defines a first backrest angle relative to horizontal and is positioned above a rear portion of the base, and the ottoman is positioned below the seat and above a forward portion of the base, a TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed and positioned forwardly of the base and the seat, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest defines a second angle relative to horizontal that is less than the first angle;   wherein the backrest and seat are substantially stationary relative to the base as the seating unit moves between the upright and fully reclined positions; and   wherein an uppermost portion of the backrest moves no more than 3 inches rearward relative to the base as the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position; and   wherein the seat moves upwardly between about 3 and 6 inches relative to the base when the seating unit moves between the TV and fully reclined positions.   
     
     
         10 . The seating unit defined in  claim 9 , further comprising an electrically-powered actuator that drives the seating unit between the upright, TV and fully reclined positions. 
     
     
         11 . The seating unit defined in  claim 9 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The seating unit defined in  claim 11 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes a front swing link pivotally mounted to the base and to the seat and a rear swing link pivotally mounted to the base and to the seat. 
     
     
         13 . The seating unit defined in  claim 12 , wherein the actuator is pivotally attached to a bracket fixed to the rear swing link. 
     
     
         14 . The seating unit defined in  claim 12 , wherein the reclining mechanism includes a backpost fixed to the backrest and pivotally attached to the seat. 
     
     
         15 . The seating unit defined in  claim 14 , wherein the reclining mechanism further includes a recline link pivotally attached to the backpost and to the rear swing link. 
     
     
         16 . The seating unit defined in  claim 11 , wherein the linear actuator moves forward relative to the base as the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position. 
     
     
         17 . A seating unit, comprising:
 a base configured to rest on an underlying surface;   a seat;   a backrest;   an ottoman;   a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat, backrest and at least one ottoman, the reclining mechanism comprising a series of pivotally interconnected links configured and arranged to control the movement of the seating unit between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed and positioned above the base, the backrest defines a first backrest angle relative to horizontal and is positioned above a rear portion of the base, and the ottoman is positioned below the seat and above a forward portion of the base, a TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed and positioned forwardly of the base and the seat, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest defines a second angle relative to horizontal that is less than the first angle; and   a linear actuator attached to the reclining mechanism to drive the seating unit between the upright, TV and fully reclined positions;   wherein an uppermost portion of the backrest moves no more than 4 inches rearward relative to the base as the seating unit moves from the TV position to the fully reclined position.