Modular furniture and reclining assemblies

Abstract

Disclosed are furniture systems including at least one reclining assembly. The reclining assembly can be configured to seamlessly integrate and couple to a modular furniture assembly, having a footprint that substantially fits within the geometric specifications of the footprint of the modular furniture assembly. The reclining assembly can have a general appearance that is substantially similar to the modular furniture assembly when the reclining assembly is in the un-reclined position. The reclining assembly can include a reclining mechanism that permits transitioning the reclining assembly between a shallow and deep seat configuration. The reclining assembly can include a rotatable footrest panel. The reclining mechanism can include rotating gears that ride on gear rails, to effect the reclining movement and/or extension of the footrest panel.

1 . A reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly, the modular reclining furniture assembly comprising (a) one or more bases, each of the one or more bases having a length and a width, and (b) one or more upright members; the reclining mechanism housable within a first base of the one or more bases and configured to move a seating surface and a footrest assembly relative to the first base during a reclining operation, wherein:
 the reclining mechanism is operable in a first seating configuration,   a user can remove the reclining mechanism from within the first base,   the user can move the reclining mechanism relative to the first base, and   the user can reinsert the reclining mechanism into the first base to form a second seating configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reclining mechanism comprises an extension direction, and wherein:
 in the first seating configuration, the extension direction corresponds to the length of the base, and   in the second seating configuration, the extension direction corresponds to the width of the base.   
     
     
         3 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the user moves the reclining mechanism from the first seating configuration to the second seating configuration, the reclining mechanism is moved 90 degrees relative to the first base. 
     
     
         4 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a latching mechanism for anchoring the reclining mechanism in the base is a quick release mechanism that does not require the use of any tools. 
     
     
         5 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more upright members are static and remain static during an extension of the reclining assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 1 , the modular reclining furniture assembly comprises two or more bases. 
     
     
         7 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the user can disengage the reclining mechanism from the first base and reengage the reclining mechanism with a separate reclining base. 
     
     
         8 . A reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly, the reclining mechanism configured to be selectively received within a base of the modular reclining furniture assembly, the reclining mechanism comprising:
 a carriage comprising:
 a first rail and a second rail; and 
 one or more cross rails, wherein the one or more cross rails couple the first rail to the second rail; and 
   a footrest assembly comprising an extendable footrest panel,   wherein:
 the reclining mechanism has a first position relative to the base and a second position relative to the base, such that the modular furniture assembly is operable in either a shallow seating configuration or a deep seating configuration. 
   
     
     
         9 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first rail and the second rail are curved rails. 
     
     
         10 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the footrest assembly is configured to be received within a space defined by the carriage. 
     
     
         11 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the footrest assembly is couplable with the first rail and the second rail. 
     
     
         12 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the footrest assembly comprises a rotatable footrest panel. 
     
     
         13 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the footrest assembly includes a rotatable footrest panel having a leading edge that is rotatable away from or towards a user seated on the base within which the reclining mechanism is selectively received. 
     
     
         14 . The reclining mechanism that forms part of a modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the footrest assembly selectively extends from a front edge of the modular furniture system. 
     
     
         15 . A modular reclining furniture assembly, comprising:
 a base having a seating surface, the base having a rectangular footprint having a width and a depth, the base configured to be selectively oriented such that either the width or the depth defines a front edge of the base;   a reclining mechanism within the base and configured to move the seating surface relative to a housing of the base during a reclining operation, the reclining mechanism coupled to a footrest assembly; and   the footrest assembly configured to be operably moved by the reclining mechanism, wherein the footrest assembly includes a footrest panel;   the reclining mechanism having a motor configured to move the footrest assembly into different positions, wherein:
 the reclining mechanism is configured to be moved by a user into either a first orientation or a second orientation relative to the base, and wherein: 
 the first orientation and the second orientation are positioned approximately 90 degrees relative to each other. 
   
     
     
         16 . The modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the reclining mechanism is configured to be removed from the base and reinserted into the base when changing from the first orientation to the second orientation, the user removes the reclining mechanism from the base. 
     
     
         17 . The modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the motor causes one or more rails to extend or compress. 
     
     
         18 . The modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the motor causes the seating surface to pitch. 
     
     
         19 . The modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the footrest assembly extends from the front edge of the base. 
     
     
         20 . The modular reclining furniture assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the seating surface can be pitched in either the first orientation or the second orientation.