Link-controlled lengthened footrest

Abstract

A new and improved powered chair, love seat, or sofa comprises back rest mounting brackets, seat plates, primary footrest mounting brackets, secondary footrest mounting brackets, link members pivotally interconnecting the pair of primary footrest mounting brackets to the pair of secondary footrest mounting brackets, linkage members operatively connected to the seat plates and the primary footrest mounting brackets, and an actuator operatively connected to the linkage members such that when the actuator is actuated, the linkage members will move the primary footrest mounting brackets which will, in turn, move the link members so as to move the secondary footrest mounting brackets.

1 . A powered chair, love seat, or sofa, comprising:
 a pair of oppositely disposed back rest mounting brackets for mounting a backrest;   a pair of oppositely disposed seat plates for mounting a seat;   a pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets;   a pair of oppositely disposed secondary footrest mounting brackets for mounting a footrest together with said pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets;   a pair of oppositely disposed link members pivotally interconnecting said pair of primary footrest mounting brackets to said pair of oppositely disposed secondary footrest mounting brackets;   a pair of oppositely disposed linkage members operatively connected to said pair of oppositely disposed seat plates and to said pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets; and   an actuator operatively connected to said pair of oppositely disposed linkage members such that when said actuator is actuated, said pair of oppositely disposed linkage members will move said pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets which will, in turn, move said pair of oppositely disposed link members so as to move said pair of oppositely disposed secondary footrest mounting brackets.   
     
     
         2 . The powered chair, love seat, or sofa, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 each one of said pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets comprises a planar plate portion.   
     
     
         3 . The powered chair, love seat, or sofa, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 each one of said pair of oppositely disposed secondary footrest mounting brackets comprises a planar plate portion.   
     
     
         4 . The powered chair, love seat, or sofa, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said planar plate portions of said pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets and said planar plate portions of said pair of oppositely disposed secondary footrest mounting brackets are adapted to be disposed in a coplanar manner with respect to each other when said pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets and said pair of oppositely disposed secondary footrest mounting brackets are moved to extended positions.   
     
     
         5 . The powered chair, love seat, or sofa, as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a pair of oppositely disposed coiled springs mounted upon said pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets, and operatively connected to said pair of oppositely disposed secondary footrest mounting brackets so as to maintain said coplanar relationship defined between said pair of oppositely disposed primary footrest mounting brackets and said pair of oppositely disposed secondary footrest mounting brackets.   
     
     
         6 . The powered chair, love seat, or sofa, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said actuator comprises a linear actuator.   
     
     
         7 . The powered chair, love seat, or sofa, as set forth in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a chair framework assembly comprising a forward, transversely extending cross-frame member; and   wherein said linear actuator comprises a drive motor which is mounted upon said forward, transversely extending cross-frame member.   
     
     
         8 . The powered chair, love seat, or sofa, as set forth in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a chair framework assembly comprising a rearward, transversely extending cross-frame member; and   wherein said linear actuator comprises a drive motor which is mounted upon said rearward, transversely extending cross-frame member.