The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 12, 1994
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1992
Jonathan R Saul, LaSalle, MI (US);
Karl J Komorowski, Petersburg, MI (US);
Larry P LaPointe, Temperance, MI (US);
Edwin J Shoemaker, Monroe, MI (US);
La-Z-Boy Chair Company, Monroe, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved latching mechanism for a rocking chair having an extensible leg rest assembly is disclosed. The latching mechanism is operable to releasably lock the chair frame in a rearwardly tilted position upon extension of the leg rest assembly while permitting unrestricted rocking action when the leg rest assembly is protracted. The improved latching mechanism is a pawl and ratchet latching mechanism having a spring-biased pawl member operable to lockingly engage a toothed ratchet sector for retaining the chair frame in its rearwardly tilted position. A unique actuation arrangement is disclosed having a release member that functions to pull the spring-biased pawl member to a released position. The actuation arrangement is also operable to prevent the release member from exerting any compressive biasing loading on the pawl member when the pawl member is in locked engagement with the ratchet teeth.