Reclining seating unit with wall-proximity capability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wall-proximity reclining chairs have complex and bulky mechanisms, which are expensive to produce and may not be suitable for certain chair styles, particularly those with high arms, and often have visible components when upright.
Innovation Solution
A reclining mechanism with pivotally interconnected links that allows the seat and backrest to move forward relative to the base, enabling wall-proximity capability without a visible mechanism when upright, using a simplified linkage system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional reclining seating unit is designed, then it provides comfortable reclining functionality, but it requires a significant amount of space and cannot be positioned close to walls
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest assembly is segmented into a fixed portion and a movable portion that can rotate independently. The movable portion includes a support surface and a backrest surface that can be positioned at various angles, allowing the seating unit to maintain comfort while reducing its effective footprint when positioned near walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest assembly incorporates dynamic movement capabilities through rotation mechanisms. The movable portion can rotate between a first position (providing full reclining support) and a second position (reducing depth), enabling the seating unit to adapt to wall-proximity constraints while maintaining functionality.
2Area of stationary object
If the headrest depth is reduced to enable wall-proximity positioning, then space requirement is reduced, but headrest support functionality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest assembly transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with multiple positions. The movable portion can rotate to provide full support when needed, ensuring that reduced depth does not compromise the reliability of headrest support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest assembly changes its geometric parameters through rotation. The movable portion can be positioned at different angles and depths, allowing the system to optimize between compactness and support functionality based on operational requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wall-proximity reclining seating unit includes: a frame having a back member and a pair of arms, the back member extending between the arms; a backrest; a seat; a first footrest; and a reclining mechanism connected between the frame, backrest, seat, and first footrest. The reclining mechanism comprises a series of pivotally interconnected links and is configured to move the seating unit between: (a) an upright position, (b) a TV position, in which the first footrest is extended in front of the seat and is generally horizontally disposed, and the seat and backrest are moved forwardly relative to the frame between about 2.5 and 4 inches; and (c) a fully reclined position, in which the first footrest remains extended in front of the seat, and the seat is moved forward of its position in the TV position between about 4 and 7 inches.