Reclining seating unit with wall-proximity capability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall-proximity reclining chairs have complex and bulky mechanisms that are expensive to produce, making them unsuitable for certain designs, such as high-leg chairs, where the reclining mechanism is undesirable to be visible from the side in the upright position.
Innovation Solution
A wall-proximity reclining seating unit with a series of pivotally interconnected links and a linear actuator comprising an energizing unit, rail, and carriage, which allows the chair to move between upright, TV, and fully reclined positions without the need for visible mechanisms, using a footrest linkage for initial position changes and a reclining linkage for further seat and backrest movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional wall-proximity mechanism with multiple interconnected parts is used, then the chair can achieve wall-proximity capability, but the mechanism becomes complex and bulky, increasing production cost and making it unsuitable for high-leg chair designs
Solution Approach 1:
The reclining mechanism is divided into two independent linkages: a footrest linkage that moves the footrest between upright and TV positions, and a reclining linkage that moves the seat and backrest from TV to fully reclined position. This segmentation allows each linkage to be simpler and more compact than a single integrated mechanism, resolving the contradiction between wall-proximity capability and mechanism complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism uses a linear actuator with an energizing unit, rail, and carriage that moves dynamically along the rail to provide the necessary motion for both linkages. This dynamic actuation system replaces complex mechanical linkages with a simpler, more compact linear motion system, reducing overall mechanism complexity while maintaining wall-proximity functionality
2Ease of operation
If a conventional reclining mechanism is used in high-leg chairs, then the reclining function is achieved, but the mechanism becomes visible from the side in the upright position, which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The reclining mechanism components are nested within the high-leg chair structure, with the linear actuator and linkage components positioned within the leg assembly. This nesting allows the mechanism to remain hidden from side view in the upright position while still providing full reclining functionality, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and visual appearance
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seat and backrest move forward significantly during reclining, then wall-proximity capability is achieved, but the mechanism requires more space and becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism achieves the required seat and backrest forward movement by utilizing vertical space within the high-leg chair structure rather than requiring additional horizontal space. The linear actuator moves the linkage components vertically within the leg assembly, which translates to the necessary forward motion of the seat and backrest, reducing the overall volume required for the mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A wall-proximity reclining seating unit includes: a frame having a back member and a pair of arms; a backrest; a seat; a footrest; a reclining mechanism connected between the frame, backrest, seat, and footrest, the reclining mechanism configured to move the seating unit between: (a) an upright position, in which the footrest is retracted below a forward portion of the seat; (b) a TV position, in which the backrest substantially maintains its angle, the seat substantially maintains its angle, and the first footrest is disposed in front of the seat; and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the backrest is disposed at a shallower angle, the footrest remains positioned in front of the seat, and the seat is moved forward of its position in the TV position; and a linear actuator comprising an energizing unit, a rail, and a carriage connected with the reclining mechanism.