La-z-boy Incorporated

Faurecia Exhaust Systems, Inc.

Eric B Harwood

Larry P LaPointe

Chad Edward Adams

Richard E Marshall

Michael R Mero

Alexander M Hegedus

Richard D Hartford

Eugene O Cole, Ii

Larry P Lapointe

Eugene O Cole Ii

A furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions includes a first torque tube having first and second connecting links fixed thereto. The connecting links are each rotatably connected to a first or second connecting arm. The first and second connecting arms are rotatably connected to a gear housing. A positioning motor connected to the gear housing displaces a slide member coupled to the gear housing. Slide member motion displaces the first and second connecting arms, displacing and rotating the first torque tube. First and second connecting plates are rotatably connected to the slide member. A second torque tube is fixed at opposite ends to each of first and second arm rest portions of a furniture member base portion. The first and second connecting plates are also connected to the second torque tube such that slide member displacement rotates the base member.

Furniture member with powered mechanism providing lift and zero gravity positions

A furniture member rocker spring assembly includes first and second bracket members arranged in mirror image configuration. First and second springs are positioned between and in direct contact with each of the first and second bracket members. A restrictor bolt assembly is positioned intermediately between the first and second springs. The restrictor bolt assembly includes at least one sleeve member received in an aperture of the first and second bracket members and a fastener that extends through a sleeve bore in the sleeve member. The sleeve member is arranged in sliding contact with at least one of the first and second bracket members.

Restricted rocker spring assembly

A seatback member cam adjustment system includes a seat link having a first bore and a seatback link rotatably connected to the seat link. The seatback link includes an arm portion and a leg portion connected to the arm portion. The leg portion is angularly oriented to the arm portion, and includes a second bore smaller than the first bore. A cam member cam body is positioned in the first bore. A cam body obround cam surface has oppositely facing first and second cam contact points both in direct contact with a first bore inner wall. A cam mount shaft is rotatably supported in the cam member including and extends through the second bore rotatably supporting the cam mount shaft in the second bore. Cam member rotation displaces the cam contact points along the first bore inner wall changing an arm portion orientation angle and a seatback member orientation angle.

Furniture member seatback linkage with cam member for adjusting seatback angle

An article of furniture may include a seat link and a seatback link. The seat link may include first, second and third apertures. The seatback link may be rotatably coupled to the seat link and may include fourth, fifth and sixth apertures. The seatback link and a seatback frame may be rotatable relative to the seat link and a seat-bottom frame among a first position in which only the first and fourth apertures are coaxially aligned, a second position in which only the second and fifth apertures are coaxially aligned, and a third position in which only the third and sixth apertures are coaxially aligned. The seatback link may be rotationally locked relative to the seat link by inserting a fastener in the first and fourth apertures in the first position, the second and fifth apertures in the second position, and the third and sixth apertures in the third position.

Furniture member seatback linkage with selectable fastener locations for adjusting seatback angle

A furniture member has a base frame including first and second frame members each having a first or second frame support tube. A mechanism includes a motor connected to the base frame and a torque tube connected to first and second support brackets and the motor. A stiffening tube assembly has first and second side stiffening tubes, the first frame support tube connected to the first side stiffening tube and the second frame support tube connected to the second side stiffening tube. Multiple rotation links include a first set connected to the first frame support tube and the first side stiffening tube, and a second set connected to the second frame support tube and the second side stiffening tube. The rotation links allow mechanism rotation to a forward lift position by motor operation displacing the torque tube and thereby forwardly rotating and lifting the side stiffening tubes.

Furniture member power mechanism with selectable lift movement and zero gravity position

A furniture member rocker spring assembly includes first and second bracket members arranged in mirror image configuration. First and second springs are positioned between and in direct contact with each of the first and second bracket members. A restrictor bolt assembly is positioned between the first and second springs. The restrictor bolt assembly includes at least one sleeve member received in an aperture of the first and second bracket members. The sleeve member is in sliding contact with the first and second bracket members. A fastener extends through a sleeve bore of each of the first and second sleeve members. The fastener retains the first sleeve member in contact with the second sleeve member.

A glider furniture member adapted for electrically powered operation includes a frame having a plurality of upright posts. A plurality of links are individually rotatably connected to individual ones of the plurality of upright posts. An actuation mechanism suspended from the upright posts at rotatably connected free ends of each of the links permits forward and rearward gliding motions of the actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a leg rest assembly movable between a fully retracted and a fully extended position inclusive. An electrically powered drive assembly connected to the actuation mechanism rotates the leg rest assembly and the seat back member independently of an occupant induced force operating to move the actuation mechanism in the forward and rearward gliding motions.

Power actuated glider furniture member

A power lift lumbar support system for a furniture member includes a lumbar pad. A scissoring portion is rotatably connected to the lumbar pad and moves the lumbar pad between a fully retracted and a fully extended position. A lumbar actuation portion is connected to the scissoring portion and drives the scissoring portion using a powered actuator to displace the lumbar pad. A carrier support rod has first and second carriers slidably disposed on the carrier support rod. The scissoring portion is connected to each of the first and second carriers. Displacement of the first and second carriers toward each other operates through the scissoring portion to displace the lumbar pad away from the carrier support rod and toward the fully extended position.

Power lift lumbar support system

A powered headrest operating system includes a headrest connected to a seatback frame using rotational pins. An actuation mechanism rotatably connected to the seatback frame has a power actuated member connected to the headrest operating between retracted and extended positions to rotate the headrest from a fully retracted to a forward rotated position about an axis of rotation of the rotational pins. A release system rotatably connecting the headrest to the actuation mechanism retains the headrest at any forward rotated position while the actuation mechanism returns the power actuated member from the extended to the retracted positions if the headrest encounters an object blocking return to the retracted position. A biasing member connected to the seatback frame and the headrest creating a biasing force during headrest rotation away from the retracted position operates without actuation mechanism operating force to bias the headrest frame assembly toward the retracted position.

Furniture member powered headrest rotation and release system

An electrically operated wall proximity furniture member includes a frame and an actuation mechanism rotatably connected to the frame. The actuation mechanism includes first and second independently rotatable seat back support members oriented to face a wall outer surface. An electrically powered drive assembly operates to rotate the seat back member between fully upright and fully reclined positions inclusive. A point of the seat back support members when positioned in the fully upright position defines a rear-most extent of the actuation mechanism. The rear-most extent defines a vertical plane having no portion of the actuation mechanism extending beyond the rear-most extent toward the wall outer surface during any operation of the actuation mechanism.

Power actuated wall proximity furniture member

A rocking furniture member having an electrically powered actuation mechanism includes a frame and an actuation mechanism connected to the frame. The actuation mechanism includes an extendable and retractable leg rest assembly. A drive assembly connected to the actuation mechanism having an electric motor operates to move the leg rest assembly between a retracted position and any of a plurality of extended positions inclusive including a fully extended position by a command provided by an occupant of the furniture member. A rotation member connecting the actuation mechanism to the frame permits an occupant induced rocking motion of the actuation mechanism with respect to the frame at least when the leg rest assembly is in the retracted position.

Power actuated rocking furniture mechanism

A release system for a furniture member leg rest assembly extended from an actuation mechanism includes an actuation mechanism, the actuation mechanism having a leg rest assembly movable between a fully retracted and a plurality of extended positions inclusive, including a fully extended position. A pantograph link of the leg rest assembly is rotatably connected to the actuation mechanism. An extension link is rotatably connected to the actuation mechanism and moves in extension and retraction directions. A member is in contact with the extension link and in releasable contact with the pantograph link. The member is in contact with the pantograph link when the member is operating to push the pantograph link outward toward the fully extended position. The member is spatially separable from the pantograph link when an object is contacted by the leg rest assembly during return from any of the extended positions toward the fully retracted position.

Release system for furniture member leg rest assemblies

A method is provided for designing deformations that will achieve an optimum reduction in vibration related noise in an exhaust system component. The method entails defining an initial shape for an exhaust system component based on available space and exhaust flow characteristics. The shape is converted to a mesh having a plurality of interconnected grids. The mesh then is deformed to define an optimal theoretical configuration for the exhaust system component that will eliminate at least selected natural frequencies. The resulting shape then is converted to a plurality of small flat surfaces that intersect, and a point cloud is created from the array of small flat intersecting surfaces of the optimal theoretical exhaust system component. The point cloud is employed to smooth out intersecting surfaces and to achieve an optimal manufacturable configuration for the exhaust system component.

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Toledo, OH, United States of America

Eric B Harwood