Glider mechanism and chair with independent tilt

Abstract

A recliner seating unit is provided that allows a gliding motion and that allows the angle of the seat to be independently adjustable through a powered glide and tilt assembly.

1 . A powered glider recliner seating unit moveable between closed, TV and fully reclined positions, the seating unit comprising;
 a base;   a glide and tilt assembly coupled to the base;   a linkage mechanism supported on the glide and tilt, the linkage mechanism including a seat mounting plate, and being configured to move the seating unit between the closed, TV and fully reclined positions;   the glide and tilt assembly allowing a reciprocating gliding motion of the seat mounting plate above the base at least when the recliner is in the closed position; and including a powered actuator operable to change the orientation of the seat mounting plate independent of the position of the seating unit.   
     
     
         2 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a glide bracket coupled to the base;   and wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a carrier link at least indirectly coupled to the seat mounting plate; and   wherein the glide and tilt assembly is coupled between the glide bracket and the carrier link.   
     
     
         3 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 2 , wherein the glide and tilt assembly includes a front glide link having a top and a bottom, and a rear glide link having a top and a bottom, and wherein the carrier link is pivotally coupled to the bottom on the front glide link and to the bottom of the rear glide link. 
     
     
         4 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 3 , wherein at least the top of the front glide link is indirectly coupled to the glide bracket. 
     
     
         5 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 4 , wherein the top of the rear glide link is also indirectly coupled to the glide bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 4  wherein the top of the front glide link is indirectly coupled to the glide bracket via a front glide lift link, the front glide lift link pivotally coupled to glide bracket and operably coupled to the powered actuator to effect rotation of the front glide lift link with respect to the glide bracket, to lift the top of the front glide link as the actuator rotates the front glide lift link, and wherein the lifting of the top of the front glide lift link increase the angular orientation of the seat mounting plate relative to horizontal and independent of the position of the seating unit. 
     
     
         7 . The powered glider of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the powered actuator increases the pitch of the seat plate with the recliner in any position by between zero and forty degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The powered glider of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the powered actuator tilts the seat plate to an angle relative to horizontal of between 10-50 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The powered glider of  claim 4 , wherein actuation of the powered actuator brings the top of the rear glide link closer to the top of the front glide link, lowering the amount of glide possible. 
     
     
         10 . The powered glider of  claim 4 , wherein the glide and tilt assembly translates the linkage mechanism forwardly upon actuation of the powered actuator, to move a center of gravity of the linkage mechanism forwardly. 
     
     
         11 . The powered glider of  claim 6 , wherein the front glide lift link is coupled to the rear glide link through a connector linkage. 
     
     
         12 . A glider seating unit, having opposed sides, a seat and a back, comprising;
 a stationary base;   a seat plate coupled to the seat, and supported by the base; and   a glide and tilt assembly coupled between the base and the seat plate, and operable to change the orientation of the seat plate and allowing a reciprocating motion of the seat and back.   
     
     
         13 . The glider seating unit of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises an arm mounting plate coupled to each of the opposed sides. 
     
     
         14 . The glider seating unit of  claim 13 , wherein the glide and tilt assembly includes a front glide link having a top and a bottom, and a rear glide link having a top and a bottom, and wherein the top of the rear glide link is directly pivotally coupled to the arm mounting plate, and the top of the front glide link is indirectly coupled to the arm mounting plate. 
     
     
         15 . The glider seating unit of  claim 14 , further comprising a powered actuator coupled to the glide and tilt assembly and operable to move the glide and tilt assembly to change the orientation of the seat mounting plate. 
     
     
         16 . A powered glider recliner seating unit moveable between closed, TV and fully reclined positions, the seating unit comprising;
 a base;   a glide and tilt assembly coupled to the base;   a linkage mechanism supported on the glide and tilt assembly, the linkage mechanism including a seat mounting plate, and being configured to move the seating unit between the closed, TV and fully reclined positions;   the glide and tilt assembly allowing a reciprocating gliding motion of the seat mounting plate above the base at least when the recliner is in the closed position; and including a powered actuator operable to increase the angle of the seat mounting plate relative to horizontal and independent of the position of the seating unit, and to translate the seat mounting plate forwardly as the powered actuator increases the angle of the seat mounting plate.   
     
     
         17 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a glide bracket coupled to the base;   and wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a carrier link at least indirectly coupled to the seat mounting plate; and   wherein the glide and tilt assembly is coupled between the glide bracket and the carrier link.   
     
     
         18 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 17 , wherein the glide and tilt assembly includes a front glide link having a top and a bottom, and a rear glide link having a top and a bottom, and wherein the carrier link is pivotally coupled to the bottom on the front glide link and to the bottom of the rear glide link. 
     
     
         19 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 18 , wherein the top of the front glide link is indirectly coupled to the glide bracket, and wherein the top of the rear glide link is also indirectly coupled to the glide bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The powered glider recliner of  claim 19 , wherein the glide and tilt assembly can add pitch to the angle of the seat mounting plate of between one and forty degrees independently of the position of the powered glider recliner.