Cam Tilt Mechanism for Lockable Rocking Recliner Seating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Furniture members with rocker assemblies and extendable legrests lack a mechanism to lock the seat assembly in optimal tilt positions, compromising comfort and usability.
Innovation Solution
A tilt mechanism incorporating a cam, links, and a cam follower that locks the seat assembly in one of multiple tilt positions between fully rocked-back and fully rocked-forward positions, using a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage and a mid-ottoman bracket to support the legrest platform, allowing for infinite tilt position selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rocker assembly is provided to allow the seat assembly to rock between tilted positions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the object's composition deteriorates because the seat assembly cannot be locked in a selected position
Solution Approach 1:
The tilt mechanism transitions the rocker assembly from a purely dynamic rocking motion to a semi-static locked position. The cam and cam follower engagement creates a locked state that maintains stability while preserving the ability to rock when unlocked, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tilt mechanism acts as an intermediary between the rocker assembly and the seat assembly. It mediates the rocking motion by allowing free movement during rocking while providing a locking function when engaged, thus enabling both ease of operation and stability at different operational states.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an extendable legrest mechanism is provided to support legs and feet, then the adaptability or versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional linkage mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The tilt mechanism is integrated with the legrest mechanism through shared components such as the drive rod and linkage elements. This merging reduces the overall device complexity by consolidating functions into a unified mechanism rather than having separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanisms serve multiple functions: they control both the legrest extension and the tilt mechanism operation. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tilt mechanism locks the seat assembly in infinite tilt positions, then the adaptability or versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the cam and follower mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The cam profile is designed with a curved geometry that enables continuous adjustment through infinite positions. The curved surface allows the cam follower to engage at any point along the arc, providing infinite tilt position adjustment while maintaining a relatively simple single-component mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism changes the geometric parameters of the linkage system to achieve different tilt positions. By varying the engagement point on the cam's curved surface, the mechanism can achieve infinite positional adjustments without requiring complex multi-component systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to select a comfortable tilt position by locking the seat assembly, enhancing comfort and usability by allowing the seat assembly to be locked in any desired tilt position between fully rocked-back and fully rocked-forward positions.
Implementation Method 1
The cam may frictionally engage the cam follower in the locked position to lock the seat assembly in one of the infinite number of tilt positions
Implementation Method 2
The rocker member may be attached to the seat frame and is in rolling contact with the base frame
Data Source
AI summary
A furniture member may include a base frame and a seat assembly mounted on the base frame. The seat assembly may include a seat frame, a seatback, a seat bottom, a rocker member, a legrest mechanism, and a tilt mechanism. The rocker member is attached to the seat frame and rollingly contacts the base frame. The rocker member supports the seat assembly relative to the base frame such that the seat assembly is movable between a rocked-back tilt position and a rocked-forward tilt position. The legrest mechanism is mounted to the seat frame and attached to a legrest platform. The legrest mechanism may include a drive rod coupled to a pantograph linkage that is movable relative to the seat frame between retracted and extended positions. The tilt mechanism selectively locks the seat assembly in one of an infinite number of tilt positions between the rocked-back and rocked-forward tilt positions.