Adjustment mechanism

Abstract

An adjustment mechanism ( 20 ) for an article of furniture includes a support structure ( 22 ) securable to a seat base of the article of furniture. A carrier ( 24 ) is displaceably arranged relative to the support structure ( 22 ), the carrier ( 24 ) being configured to mount a component ( 12 ) of the article of furniture. A link assembly ( 26 ) interconnects the support structure ( 22 ) and the carrier ( 24 ). The link assembly ( 26 ) comprises at least one linkage mechanism ( 52 ) which causes initial, substantially linear motion of the carrier ( 24 ) relative to the support structure ( 22 ) to become substantially rotary motion as the carrier ( 24 ) moves from a first position to a second position relative to the seat base of the article of furniture.

1 . An adjustment mechanism for an article of furniture, the adjustment mechanism including
 a support structure securable to a seat base of the article of furniture;   a carrier displaceably arranged relative to the support structure, the carrier being configured to mount a component of the article of furniture; and   a link assembly interconnecting the support structure and the carrier, the link assembly comprising at least one linkage mechanism which causes initial, substantially linear motion of the carrier relative to the support structure to become substantially rotary motion as the carrier moves from a first position to a second position relative to the seat base of the article of furniture.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 1  in which the link assembly is configured to cause the carrier to move substantially linearly initially and then, upon further displacement of the carrier relative to the support structure, to cause the carrier to pivot relative to the support structure to move the carrier from the first position to the second position and vice versa to move the carrier from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 1  in which the at least one linkage mechanism comprises a pair of spaced links, each link having a pair of spaced pivot points, a centre line passing through the pivot points of a first of the links being substantially parallel to a centre line passing through the pivot points of a second of the links when the carrier is in its first position relative to the support structure. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 3  in which the links are of unequal length with the spacing between the pivot points of the first link being greater than the spacing between the pivot points of the second link, the first link, in use, being operatively below the second link. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 4  in which a first pivot point of the first link is aligned with a first pivot point of the second link in a direction in which the carrier is initially displaced relative to the support structure when moving the carrier from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 1  in which the support structure comprises a plurality of limbs. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 6  in which each limb is substantially L-shaped with one arm of the limb being kinked. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 6  in which the limbs are interconnected by a bridging member. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 6  in which the link assembly includes a plurality of linkage mechanisms and in which each of at least some of the limbs carries a mounting formation for mounting one of the linkage mechanisms to the support structure. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 6  in which the carrier comprises at least one bracket to which the component of the article of furniture is attachable. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustment mechanism of  claim 10  in which the carrier comprises a plurality of brackets, each of which is associated with one of the limbs of the support structure. 
     
     
         12 . An article of furniture which includes an adjustment mechanism as claimed in  claim 1 .