Clamshell Leg Rest Linkage for Easier Recliner Egress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing leg rest assemblies in furniture, such as chairs and recliners, extend only outward and obstruct egress when in use, requiring retraction for exit and lacking direct access to the pantograph links due to an intermediate cover.
Innovation Solution
A leg rest assembly with a linkage assembly featuring clamshell housings and a rotatable leg rest mechanism, allowing the leg rest to extend and retract along the furniture's lateral centerline, and enabling manual rotation about a defined axis for improved egress, with an electric motor for powered extension and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the leg rest assembly extends directly outward along the lateral centerline, then the leg rest provides support in the extended position, but the leg rest obstructs egress and requires retraction for exit
Solution Approach 1:
The leg rest assembly is made dynamically reconfigurable through a linkage mechanism that allows it to transition between extended and retracted positions. The pantograph linkage with clamshell housings enables the leg rest to move from a forward extended position (providing support) to a retracted position (allowing egress), resolving the contradiction between maintaining support function and enabling easy exit.
2Reliability
If an intermediate cover is provided between the base and leg rest, then the cover prevents direct access to pantograph links, but the cover increases device complexity and requires additional upholstery
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover function is merged with the structural linkage components themselves. The clamshell housings that form the pantograph linkage mechanism also serve as protective enclosures for the linkage components. This integration eliminates the need for separate intermediate covers and upholstery, reducing device complexity while maintaining protection of the linkage mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A furniture member includes a leg rest assembly connected to a base frame of a furniture member and extensible away from a stowed position by movement in a direction coincident with a lateral centerline of the furniture member to a fully extended position. A leg rest mechanism is connected to the base frame and the leg rest assembly. A linkage assembly includes a first clamshell housing rotatably connected to the leg rest mechanism having a first extension link also rotatably connected to the leg rest mechanism positioned within the first clamshell housing. A second clamshell housing is rotatably connected to the first clamshell housing and to a leg rest mount board of the leg rest assembly having a first mount board link positioned within the second clamshell housing also rotatably connected to the first clamshell housing and to the leg rest mount board.