WO2015184596A1

WO2015184596A1 - Two motor lift and recline system for lift and recliner chairs

Info

Publication number: WO2015184596A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/079139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Weilin Hu; Andrew Crum MICHAEL
Original assignee: Hhc Changzhou Corp.
Priority date: 2014-06-04
Filing date: 2014-06-04
Publication date: 2015-12-10

Abstract

A lift and recliner chair (10) comprises: an internal framework (20), an external framework (18), and two motor actuators (38, 40). The first motor actuator (38) moves the chair to its lift assist position as well as the actuation of a footrest unit (16). The second motor actuator (40) controls the movement of a back unit (12) of the chair. The footrest unit can be locked in its CLOSED position, for safety reasons, when the chair is moved to its lift assist position. In addition, the chair comprises oppositely disposed structural systems incorporated within each one of the opposite sides of the chair, and the rear portion of each structural system has a dependent bracket (144) which engages top and external side portions or faces of laterally spaced tubes (26), which form parts of the chair base assembly or external framework, so as to effectively provide the chair with enhanced stability, particularly when an occupant is seated within the chair and also during actuation of either one of the first and second motor actuators. Still further, the internal framework effectively includes an upper framework unit and a lower framework unit wherein mounting tabs (152, 154) of the upper framework unit are fixedly connected to mounting brackets (150) of the lower framework unit such that the weight of the upper framework unit can be easily, securely, stably, and safely supported upon the lower framework unit.

Description

TWO MOTOR LIFT AND RECLINE SYSTEM FOR LIFT AND RECLINER CHAIRS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to lift and recliner chairs, and more particularly to a lift and recliner chair that is provided with two separate and distinctmotors which can be separately and individually actuated so as to enable different parts or components to the lift and recliner chair to undergo different and separate movements as may be desired or required. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lift and recliner chairs have been employed for years, particularly within the health care industry, and more particularly to professional businesses or organizations such as, for example, hospital and nursing home facilities, wherein such chairs are effectively considered to be necessary or required as facility equip-ment as opposed to optional furnishings. However, as an increasingly greater num-ber of the general population age, and in view of the rapidly increasing costs asso-ciated with, for example, nursing home facilities, more and more people are trend-ing toward in-home health care. Accordingly, a market has developed and emerged whereby such lift and recliner chairs are now desired or required for use within indi-vidual home family rooms as opposed to hospital or nursing home rooms. In order to meet the needs for this emerging market, conventional lift and recliner chairs need to be redesigned so as to effectively be smaller in size so as to be capable of being located or accommodated within relatively smaller designated areas of an individual's home family room, the chairs need to be capable of being easily and reliably operated solely by the user in view of the fact that the user may not always have, for example, family members to assist the user to sit, rise from, or operate the chair, as the user might have previously had hospital or nursing home staff to assist the user when the user was still in the hospital or nursing home facility, and lastly, the redesigned chairs need to be economical in cost since, again, the chairs will be purchased by individuals for use within their homes as opposed to being purchased on a commercial scale by hospitals and nursing homes.

Accordingly, a need therefore exists for a new and improved lift and recliner chair that can satisfy the aforenoted requirements of this newly emerging and developing in-home market for lift and recliner chairs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention by means of a new and im-proved lift and recliner chair has been described which comprises, among other unique features, an internal framework, an external framework, and two motor ac-tuators. The first motor actuator moves the chair to its lift assist position as well as the actuation of the footrest unit. The second motor actuator controls the movement of the back unit of the chair. The footrest unit can be locked in its CLOSED position, for safety reasons, when the chair is moved to its lift assist position. In addition, the chair comprises oppositely disposed structural systems incorporated within each one of the opposite sides of the chair, and the rear portion of each structural sys-tem has a dependent bracket which engages top and external side portions or fac-es of laterally spaced tubes, which form parts of the chair base assembly or extern-al framework, so as to effectively provide the chair with enhanced stability, particu-larly when an occupant is seated within the chair and also during actuation of either one of the first and second motor actuators. Still further, the internal framework ef-fectively includes an upper framework unit and a lower framework unit wherein mounting plates of the upper framework unit are fixedly connected to mounting brackets of the lower framework unit such that the weight of the upper framework unit can be easily, securely, stably, and safely supported upon the lower framework unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view schematically disclosing the vari-ous components comprising the new and improved lift and recliner chair of the pre-sent invention wherein the chair is disposed in a normal, CLOSED position where-in the back unit of the chair is disposed at its normal upright position, the seat and arm unit of the chair is disposed at its normal sitting position or state, and the foot-rest unit is disposed at its normal lowered or CLOSED position;

FIGURE 1a is a side elevational view, corresponding to that of FIG-URE 1 , showing, some additional component parts and wherein the various com-ponent parts are illustrated on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 1 , showing, however, the back unit of the chair disposed at its backwardly reclined position;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 1 , showing, however, the footrest unit disposed at its OPEN or raised position;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 3, showing, in addition to the footrest unit being disposed at its OPEN or raised posi-tion, the back unit of the chair is disposed at its backwardly reclined position;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 1 , showing, however, the chair disposed in its forwardly inclined, lift assist position with the back unit of the chair disposed at its normal upright position and the foot-rest unit also disposed at its normal lowered or CLOSED position;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the internal and external frame-work structure of the chair which not only supports the chair upon a floor surface, and not only fixedly connects the back unit 12, the seat and arm unit 14, and the footrest unit 16 of the chair 10 to the framework 18, but in addition, serves to opera-tively move the back unit 12, the seat and arm unit 14, and the footrest unit 16 of

the chair 10 to their desired positions;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 3, schematically illustrating, however, additional details of the internal framework of the lift and recliner chair when the footrest is disposed at the raised or OPEN posi- tion;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view, corresponding to that of FIGURE 5, showing, however, the various components of the internal and external frame-work structures in an enlarged manner;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 8, showing, however, only some of the various components of the internal and extern-al framework structures on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 1 , showing, however, a smaller number of operational components of the internal and external framework structures but on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view, similar to that of FIGURE 10, showing, however, a larger number of the operational components of the internal

and external framework structures; and

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of one of the mounting assembly plates having one the mounting assembly landing links clearly illustrated as resting upon one of the side external frame tubes for providing stability to the lift and reclin-er chair when the chair is disposed at CLOSED position as also illustrated within FIGURE 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 -5 thereof, the new and improved lift and recliner chair, as constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, is illustrated and is gene-rally indicated by the reference character 10. More particularly, it can be seen that the chair 10 comprises three major components, that is, an upholstered back unit 12, which is movable between a normal upright position and a lowered, reclined po-sition, an upholstered seat and arm unit 14, and an upholstered footrest unit 16 which is movable between a normal lowered or CLOSED position and a raised or OPEN position. As will be more fully disclosed hereinafter, the back unit 12, the seat and arm unit 14, and the footrest unit 16 are interconnected by means of a plu-rality of linkage members, connectors, slots, pivots, and the like, such that the back unit 12, the seat and arm unit 14, and the footrest unit 16 are capable of being mov-ed to and from their various respective positions as illustrated within FIGURES 1 -5. As illustrated within FIGURE 1, the new and improved lift and recliner chair 10 of the present invention is disposed in a normal, CLOSED position wherein the back unit 12 of the chair 10 is disposed at its normal upright position, the seat and arm unit 14 of the chair 10 is disposed in its normal sitting position or state, and the foot-rest unit 16 is disposed at its normal lowered or CLOSED position. In FIGURE 2, the back unit 12 of the chair 10 is disposed at its backwardly reclined position while the seat and arm unit 14, as well as the footrest unit 16, are disposed in the same positions as illustrated within FIGURE 1 , in FIGURE 3, the footrest unit 16 is dis-posed at its OPEN or raised position while the back unit 12 and the seat and arm unit 14 are disposed at their normal positions, in FIGURE 4, in addition to the foot-rest unit being disposed at its OPEN or raised position, the back unit 12 of the chair 10 is disposed at its backwardly reclined position, and, lastly, in FIGURE 5, the chair 10 is disposed at its raised, forwardly inclined, lift assist position with the back unit 12 of the chair 10 disposed at its normal upright position while the footrest unit 16 of the chair 10 is disposed at its normal lowered or CLOSED position.

With additional reference being made to FIGURE 6, the new and im-proved lift and recliner chair 10 is seen to comprise an external framework 18 and an internal framework 20. The external framework 18 of the chair 10 supports the chair 10 upon a floor surface, while the internal framework 20 not only fixedly con-nects the back unit 12, the seat and arm unit 14, and the footrest unit 16 of the chair 10 to the external framework 18, but in addition, serves to operatively move the back unit 12, the seat and arm unit 14, and the footrest unit 16 of the chair 10 to their desired positions. More particularly, it is noted that the external framework 18 of the chair 10 comprises a support base that is comprised of a transversely ex-tending rear tube 22, a transversely extending front tube 24 which is disposed pa-rallel to the rear tube 22, and a pair of oppositely disposed, longitudinally extending, lateral or side tubes 26,26 which are disposed parallel to each other and are con-nected at their opposite ends to the rear tube 22 and the front tube 24. With respect to the internal framework 20, it is initially noted that the internal framework 20 es-sentially comprises two sets of laterally spaced components which are effectively mirror-images of each other and which are connected together by means of a plu-rality of transversely oriented connector tubes and at least one rod or bar. More particularly, it is seen that one of the primary components of the internal framework 20 is a pair of oppositely disposed, laterally spaced mounting assembly plates 28 each one of which has a substantially L-shaped con-figuration. At the upper end of what might be considered to be the relatively short leg of each one of the L-shaped mounting plates 28, there is pivotally attached thereto a back bracket 30, by means of a back recline pivot pin 32, and the chair back unit 12 is adapted to be attached to the back bracket 30.

As can best be seen from FIGURE 7, the upper ends of a pair of laterally spaced, oppositely disposed back recline links 34 are respectively fixedly at-tached to each back bracket 30, while the lower, dependent ends of the back re-cline links 34,34 are interconnected together by means of a transversely extending back recline link connect tube 36. A first, rearwardly disposed, chair lift/footrest mot-or actuator is disclosed at 38 and will be discussed more in detail hereinafter in ord-er to explain its operative function when it is desired to lift and recline the chair 10, as disclosed within FIGURE 5, as well as when it is desired to move the chair foot-rest from its lowered, CLOSED position as illustrated within FIGURE 1 to the rais-ed, OPEN position as illustrated within FIGURE 3. At this juncture, however, it is also noted that a second, forwardly disposed back recline motor actuator is disclos-ed at 40, as can best be seen in FIGURE 7, wherein, it is noted, for example, that the first and second motor actuators 38,40 may either be pneumatically controlled, hydraulically controlled, or comprise an electric motor with a worm gear turning a threaded screw similar to a rack and pinion drive. The second back recline motor actuator 40 has a rearwardly extending extensible/retractable rod 42 operatively as-sociated therewith, and it is seen that the free end of the rod 42 is attached to an upper back recline motor clevis-type connector 44 by means of an upper back re-cline rear motor pivot pin 46, and that the upper back recline motor clevis-type con-nector 44 is fixedly secured to the back recline link connect tube 36. In this manner, it can be appreciated that when the rod 42 is retracted or moved toward the right as viewed within FIGURE 7, the movement of rod 42 will effectively be transmitted to the back recline links 34, through means of the back recline link connect tube 36, whereby the counterclockwise movement of the back recline links 34 will, in turn, cause the back brackets 30 to likewise be pivoted in a counterclockwise position, as a result of the fixed connection of the back recline links 34 to the back brackets 30, thereby moving the chair back unit 12 from its upright position as illustrated within FIGURE 1 to its backwardly reclined position as illustrated within FIGURE 2. Obviously, reverse movement of the rod 42 will cause the reverse movement of the chair back unit 12 to be moved from its backwardly reclined position illustrated with-in FIGURE 2 to the upright position illustrated within FIGURE 1. In a manner similar to the connection of the free end of the rod 42 to the upper back recline motor cle-vis-type connector 44 and the back recline link connect tube 36, and as can best be appreciated from FIGURE 6, the second back recline motor actuator 40 has a lower back recline motor mounting tab 48 fixedly mounted upon the forward end of the back recline motor actuator 40, and the lower back re-cline motor mounting tab 48 is effectively connected to a lower back recline motor clevis-type connector 50 by means of a lower back recline motor pivot pin 52. The lower back recline motor cle-vis-type connector 50 is fixedly mounted upon a transversely extending connector link connect tube 54 which will be discussed more in detail when we return to fur-ther detailed discussion of the first chair lift/footrest motor actuator 38.

Returning now to FIGURES 6 and 7 for a continued discussion of the various components comprising the internal framework 20, it is additionally seen that each one of the mounting assembly plates 28 has fixedly mounted thereto a rear seat mounting bracket 56 and a front seat mounting bracket 58 by means of which the chair seat unit 14 may be fixedly secured to the internal framework 20. Still further, a pair of oppositely disposed mounting brackets 60,60 are respectively fixedly attached upon interior surfaces of the mounting assembly plates 28, and op-posite ends of a transversely oriented support or stiffening bar or rod 62 are fixedly mounted within the brackets 60,60. In addition, and by reverting back to FIGURE 5 in addition to reference being continued to be made to FIGURES 6 and 7, as well as FIGURE 9, it is seen that the first chair lift/footrest motor actuator 38 has a lower lift/footrest motor mounting tab 64 fixedly mounted upon the rear of the first chair lift/footrest motor actuator 38, and that the lower lift/footrest motor mounting tab 64 is pivotally mounted within a lower lift/footrest motor clevis-type connector 66 by means of a lower lift/footrest motor pivot pin 68. The lower lift/footrest motor clevis-type connector 66, is, in turn, fixedly mounted upon the rear external frame tube 22. Continuing further, and as can best be appreciated from FIGURE6-9, the first chair lift/footrest motor actuator 38, which is similar to motor actuator 40, has a forwardly extending extensible and retractable rod 70, similar to rod 42, and it is seen that the forwardmost end portion of the 70 has a transversely oriented up-per lift/footrest motor pivot pin 72 mounted therein. The pivot pin 72 has its opposite ends rotatably mounted within an upper front lift/footrest clevis-type connector 74 which is fixedly secured to a transversely oriented lift/footrest connect tube 76. In addition to the aforenoted structural components, it is also seen that the internal framework 20 comprises a pair of oppositely disposed, substantially trapezoid-shaped base assembly lift link plates 78,78 which are respectively secured to the pair of side external frame tubes 26,26. Each one of a pair of oppositely disposed lower lift/footrest links 80,80 has one end thereof pivotally connected to a lower end of one of the lift link plate 78,78 by means of a pivot pin 81 , while each one of a pair of oppositely disposed upper lift/footrest links 82,82 has one end thereof pivotally connected to an upper end of one of the lift link plates 78,78 by means of a pivot pin 83. It is further seen that the opposite end of each one of the lower lift/foot-rest links 80,80 is pivotally connected to a lift/footrest connector link 84 by means of pi-vot pin 86, and that the opposite end of each one of the upper lift/footrest links 82, 82 is pivotally connected to one of the lift/footrest connector links 84 by means of a pivot pin 88. In this manner, it can be readily appreciated that a four-bar lift/foot-rest link torque assembly has effectively been created or developed by means of the lift/footrest link plate 78, the lower lift/footrest link 80, the upper lift/footrest link 82, and the lift/ footrest connector link 84. In addition, in order to render the four-bar lift/footrest torque assembly structurally sound and stable, a transversely oriented lower lift/ footrest link connect tube 90 interconnects the oppositely disposed lower lift/footrest links 80,80, while another connect tube, the connector link connect tube 54 interconnects the oppositely disposed lift/footrest connector links 84,84.

With reference now being additionally made to FIGURES 10 and 11 which show other operative components of the lift/footrest drive system in an en-larged manner so as to capable of being appreciated more clearly, it is seen that each one of the oppositely disposed lift/footrest connector links 84 is provided with a substantially semi-circular lift/footrest rotation link pin slot 92, and a pair of oppo-sitely disposed lift/footrest control links 94 are fixedly secured to opposite ends of the lift/footrest connect tube 76 so as to be respectively disposed adjacent to the lift/footrest connector links 84 as can best be seen in FIGURE 6. Each one of the lift/footrest control links 94 is pivotally attached to one of the lift/footrest connector links 84 by means of a lift/footrest rotation link pivot pin 96, and it is further seen that each one of the lift/footrest rotation links 94 is provided with a lift/footrest rota-tion link pin 98 which passes through the semi-circular slot 92 defined within each one of the lift/footrest connector links 84 and is fixedly engaged within each one of a pair of oppositely disposed lift/footrest control links 100.

It is further seen that each one of the pair of oppositely disposed lift/ footrest control links 100 has an elongated lift/footrest control slot 102 defined therein, and a transversely oriented lift/footrest control pin 104 not only has its op-posite ends disposed within the slots 102 of the oppositely disposed lift/footrest control links 100 but also passes through a pair of oppositely disposed first lift/foot- rest extension/contraction link 106 as can best be seen in FIGURES 3,4, and 7. A first end portion of each one of the first lift/footrest extension/contraction links 106 is pivotally attached to a respective one of the mounting assembly plates 28 by means of a pivot pin 105. The lift/footrest control pin 104 is effectively a double-ended rivet so as to be fixedly retained within the lift/footrest control links 100, while interior shank portions of the lift/footrest control pin 104 are adapted to be engaged by hooked end portions 107 of a pair of oppositely disposed lift/footrest lock links 108 which are respectively pivotally mounted upon each one of the oppositely dis-posed mounting assembly plates 28 by means of a lift/footrest lock link pivot 110. In this manner, when the hooked end portions 107 of the lock links 108 do become engaged with the control pin 104, the footrest lift/footrest extension/contraction link unit 16 will effectively be locked at a CLOSED position. This engagement of the control pin 104 by means of the hooked portions 107 of the lock links 108 will be further discussed hereinafter when the movement of the footrest unit 16 to and between its lowered and CLOSED position and its raised and OPEN position is discussed more fully.

Continuing now, however, with the discussion of the extension of the footrest unit 16 to its raised, OPEN position, as can be appreciated from FIGURES 3,4, and 7, it is seen that in addition to the pair of oppositely disposed first lift/foot-rest extension/contraction links 106, a pair of second oppositely disposed lift/foot-rest extension/contraction links 112 are seen to be pivotally connected at a first end thereof to a respective one of the oppositely disposed mounting assembly plates 28 by means of a pivot pin 114, while the second opposite end of each one of the sec-ond oppositely disposed lift/footrest extension/contraction links 112 is respectively pivotally connected to a first end of a pair of third oppositely disposed lift/footrest extension/contraction links 116 by means of a pivot pin 118. Still yet further, a pair of fourth oppositely disposed lift/footrest extension/contraction links 120 are seen to be respectively pivotally connected at a first end portion thereof to a second end of each one of the first lift/footrest extension/contraction link 106 by means of a pivot pin 122, while an intermediate portion of each one of the fourth oppositely disposed lift/foot-rest extension/contraction links 120 is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of each one of the second one of the oppositely disposed lift/footrest exten-sion/contraction links 112 by means of a pivot pin 124. Lastly, it is seen that a sec-ond opposite end of each one of the pair of third oppositely disposed lift/footrest ex-tension/contraction links 116 is connected to a footrest mounting bracket 126 by means of a pivot pin 128, while the second opposite end of each one of the pair of fourth oppositely disposed lift/footrest extension/contraction links 120 is similarly pi-votally connected to the footrest mounting bracket 126 by means of a pivot pin 130. The footrest mounting bracket 126 is adapted to have a footrest 132 fixedly mount-ed thereon as can be seen in FIGURES 3 and 4. It is lastly seen, and to be appre-ciated, that in accordance with an additionally unique structural feature or system characteristic of the lift and recliner chair 10 of the present invention, the internal framework 20 is effectively divided into an upper framework unit comprising, for ex-ample, the mounting assembly plates 28 and the various internal structural frame-work members carried thereon, such as the back brackets 30, the back recline links 34, the back recline link connect tube 36, the rear seat mounting brackets 56, the front seat mounting brackets 58, the lift/footrest control links 100, the first, second, third, and fourth lift/foot-rest extension/contraction links 106, 112, 116, 120, the lift/ footrest lock links 108, and the footrest mounting brackets 126, and a lower frame-work unit comprising, for example, the lift footrest link plates 78, the lower lift/foot-rest links 80, the upper lift/footrest link plates 82, the lift/footrest connector links 84, the lower lift/footrest link connect tube 90, and the lift/footrest rotation links 94. In addition, as illustrated within FIGURE 6, it is also seen that the lower framework un-it comprises a pair of oppositely disposed mounting brackets or flanged members 150 fixedly secured to the lift/footrest connector links 84, while the upper framework unit is seen to additionally comprise a pair of oppositely disposed mounting tab sets fixedly secured to the mounting assembly plates 28, wherein the two members of each tab set are longitudinally spaced from each other so as to effectively define forward and rearward tabs 152, 154. Conventionally, these upper and lower frame-work units were secured together by means of horizontally oriented fasteners such that the weight and structural integrity of the internal framework 20 depended upon the structural integrity of the fasteners. To the contrary, it can be readily appreciat-ed that in accordance with the structural system of the present invention, the lower internal framework unit can structurally support the weight of the upper internal framework, and the weight of the multiple chair units 12, 14,16, in a secure and stable manner due to the mounting of the upper framework unit tab members 152, 154 being fixedly secured to the lower framework unit mounting brackets or flanged members 150 by means of vertically oriented fasteners, not shown.

Having now described essentially all of the operative components comprising the new and improved two-motor lift and recliner chair 10, and especial-ly essentially all of the operative components comprising the internal framework 20 by means of which the lift and recliner chair 10, the back unit 12, the seat unit 14, and the footrest unit 16 can be moved to and between their various positions as illustrated within FIGURES 1 -5, a brief description of the actual operations of the various components will now be described so that it will be clear as to how the lift and recliner chair 10, the back unit 12, the seat unit 14, and the footrest unit 16 do achieve their various positions. It is to be noted firstly that the two motor actuators 38,40 are separate, distinct, and independent actuators. As will be appreciated more fully hereinafter, the first motor actuator 38 is utilized to cause the lift and re-cliner chair 10 to achieve its lift assist position as illustrated within FIGURE 5, as well as the movement of the footrest unit 16 between its lowered and CLOSED po-sition as illustrated within FIGURE 1 and its raised and OPEN position as illustrated within FIGURE 3, whereas the second motor actuator 40 is utilized to control the movement of the back unit 12 between its normal upright position as illustrated within FIGURE 1 and its reclined position as illustrated within FIGURE 2. More par-ticulalry, as has been previously noted, and considering the second motor actuator 40 first with the best reference being made to FIGURES 2 and 6, the rear end of the second motor actuator, which effectively comprises the rear end of the rod 42, is pivotally connected to the upper back recline motor clevis-type connector 44, fix-edly mounted upon the back recline link connect tube 36, by means of the pivot pin 46. In a similar manner, the front end of the second motor actuator 40 is pivotally connected to the connector link connect tube 54 which has its opposite ends fixedly mounted within the pair of oppositely disposed lift/footrest connector links 84,84.

The front end of the second motor actuator 40 has a lower back re-cline motor mounting tab 48 projecting outwardly therefrom which is pivotally con-nected to the lower back recline motor clevis-type connector 50, fixedly mounted upon the connector link connect tube 54, by means of a pivot pin 52. Continuing further, it can also be best appreciated from FIGURES 2,6 and 7 that the opposite ends of the back recline link connect tube 36 are fixedly mounted within the pair of oppositely disposed back recline links 34,34. In turn, the pair of oppositely disposed back recline links 34,34 are respectively fixedly secured to the pair of oppositely disposed back brackets 30 which are respectively pivotally mounted upon the pair of oppositely disposed mounting assembly plate 28,28 and which mount the lift and recliner chair back unit 12 thereon. Accordingly, it can be readily appreciated that when the rod 42 of the second motor actuator 40 is extended to it maximum posi-tion, as illustrated within FIGURE 7, the pivotal connection defined between the rod 42 and the back recline plates 34,34 will cause the back recline plates 34,34 to ro-tate in a clockwise manner relative to the mounting assembly plates 28,28 thereby, in turn, causing the back brackets 30,30 to rotate in a clockwise manner relative to the mounting assembly plates 28,28 whereby the lift and recliner chair back unit 12 will be moved to its upright position as illustrated within FIGURES 1,3, and 7. Con-versely, when the rod 42 of the second motor actuator 40 is contracted to it maxi-mum position, as illustrated within FIGURES 2 and 4, the pivotal connection defin-ed between the rod 42 and the back recline plates 34,34 will cause the back recline plates 34,34 to rotate in a counterclockwise manner relative to the mounting as-sembly plates 28,28 thereby, in turn, causing the back brackets 30,30 to rotate in a counterclockwise manner relative to the mounting assembly plates 28,28 whereby the lift and recliner chair back unit 12, attached to the back brackets 30,30, will be moved to its reclined position as illustrated within FIGURES 2 and 4. Reversing the actuation of the second motor actuator 40 once again will move the lift and recliner chair back unit 12 back to its upright position.

Considering now the first motor actuator 38 which, as has been pre-viously noted, is utilized to actuate the lift and recliner chair 10 to its lift assist posi-tion whereby the chair 10 disposed in a lift and forwardly inclined position as illus-trated within FIGURES 5 and 8, as well as to actuate the chair footrest unit 16 of the chair 10 between its lowered and CLOSED position, as illustrated within FIG-URES 1 and 1a, and its raised and OPEN position as illustrated within FIGURES 3, 4, and 7, it will be recalled that the rear end of the first motor actuator 38 is pivotally connected to the rear external frame tube 22 through means of the mounting tab 64 which projects outwardly from the rear end of the first motor actuator 38 and which is pivotally connected to the lower lift/footrest motor clevis-type connector 66, fixed- ly mounted upon the rear external frame tube 22, by means of the pivot pin 68. In a similar manner, the front end of the first motor actuator 38 is pivotally connected to the lift/footrest connect tube 76 which has its opposite ends fixedly mounted within the pair of oppositely disposed lift/footrest rotation links 94,94. The front end of the first motor actuator 38, which is effectively the front end of the first motor actuator rod 70, is pivotally connected to the lift/footrest connect tube 76 through means of an upper lift/footrest motor clevis-type connector 74, fixedly mounted upon the lift/ footrest connect tube 76, and a pivot pin 72. As was the case with the second mot-or actuator 82, the extension and contraction of the rod 70 of the first motor actuat-or 38, causes the distances between the pivot pins 68 and 72 to be altered.

It is additionally noted that when the lift and recliner chair is disposed in its lowered, CLOSED position, as can best be appreciated with reference being made to FIGURES 1 and 1a, the lift/footrest lock link 108 is further provided with a lift/footrest lock link pin 134 which engages the upwardly inclined edge portion 136 of the lift/ footrest link plate 78. In this manner, as a result of this engagement of the lock pin 134 with the edge portion 136 of the link plate 78, the lift/footrest lock link 108 is effectively caused to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction whereby the hooked end portion 107 of the lock link 108 is not able to engage the lift/footrest control pin 104. Accordingly, when the lift and recliner chair 10 is therefore dispos-ed at its lowered, CLOSED position, the footrest unit 16 can be moved to its raised and OPEN position. However, when the first motor actuator 38 is activated so as to extend its rod 70 to its maximum extent, as illustrated within FIGURES 5 and 8, so as to effectively move the lift and recline chair 10 into its lift assist mode, it is seen that the lock link pin 134 is disengaged from the edge portion 136 of the link plate 78. A lift/footrest lock link extension spring 138 has one end thereof wrapped around a lift/footrest lock link extension spring attachment pin 140 fixedly mounted upon the lift/footrest lock link 108, and the other end thereof engaged within a lift/ footrest lock link extension spring attachment hole 142 formed within each one of the mounting assembly plates 28,28. Accordingly, when the first motor actuator 38 is activated to its maximum extension mode whereby the lock link pin 134 is disen-gaged from the edge portion 136 of the link plate 78, the extension spring 138 will cause the lock link 108 to pivot around its pivot pin 110 in the clockwise direction whereby the hooked end portion 107 of the lock link 108 is able to engage the lift/footrest control pin 104 whereby the footrest unit 16 is effectively locked at its CLOSED position and prevented from moving to its OPEN position.

Continuing further, when the first motor actuator 38 is activated so as to effectively retract the rod 70 to a first contracted state, the lift and recliner chair 10 is able to be moved from its lift assist mode as illustrated within FIGURES 5 and 8 to its CLOSED mode as illustrated within FIGURES 1 and 1a. Each one of the mounting assembly plates 28 has a landing link 144 depending therefrom, and as can best be seen in FIGURE 12, when the lift and reclined chair 10 is moved to the CLOSED position, each one of the pair of oppositely disposed landing links 144 engages one of the side external frame tubes 26. More particularly, it is seen that each one of the landing links 144 comprises a horizontally oriented contact tab 146, which is adapted to engage a top surface portion of each one of the side external frame tubes 26,26, and a vertically oriented stabilizer tab 148 which is adapted to engage an outer side surface portion of each one of the side external frame tubes 26,26. In this manner, the landing links 144, through means of their contact tabs 146 and its stabilizer tabs 148, provide lateral stability to the lift and recliner chair 10 when the same is disposed at its CLOSED position. Still further, the landing links 144, through means of the horizontally oriented contact tabs 146 and the ver-tically oriented stabilizer tabs 148, effectively provide the chair 10 with a stable foundation upon which the first and second chair motor actuators 38,40 can be actuated so as to actuate the various mechanisms, that they control, in a safe and stable manner. It is also to be noted that when the lift and recliner chair 10 is dis-posed at either the lift assist position, as illustrated within FIGURE 5 and 8, as a result of the maximum extension of the rod 70 of the first motor actuator 38, or at the CLOSED position, as illustrated within FIGURES 1 and 1a, as a result of the retraction of the rod 70 to its first contracted state, the lift/footrest rotation link pin 98 is disposed at the extreme far right position within the lift/footrest rotation link pin slot 92. Accordingly, since the lift/footrest rotation link pin 98 is operatively connect-ed to the lift/footrest control link 100, which, in turn, is operatively connected to the first, second, third, and fourth lift/footrest extension/contraction links 106, 112, 116, 120, the lift/footrest control link 100 and the first, second, third, and fourth lift/foot-rest extension/contraction links 106, 112, 116, 120 all remain at their contracted po-sitions as illustrated, for example, within FIGURES 1,1a,5,8, and 9. However, when the piston rod 70 is moved to a second retracted position as illustrated, for examp-le, within FIGURES 3,4, and 7, it is seen that the lift/footrest rotation link pin 98 is now disposed at the extreme far left position within the lift/footrest rotation link pin slot 92. Accordingly, again, since the lift/footrest rotation link pin 98 is operatively connected to the lift/footrest control link 100, the lift-footrest control link 100 is ef-fectively forced to move from its previous substantially vertically oriented position to a substantially horizontally oriented position. In turn, the first, second, third, and fourth lift/footrest extension/contraction links 106, 112, 116, 120, are likewise forced to move from substantially vertically oriented or inclined positions to substantially horizontally oriented positions such that the chair footrest unit 16 is moved to its raised and OPEN position. It is also to be appreciated that as a result of the afore-noted connection of the lift/footrest control link 100 and the lift/footrest rotation link pin 98, the rotation of the control link 100 around the pivot pin 96, and the intercon-nection defined between the control link 100 and the first extension/contraction link 106, the control pin 104 will effectively move from the upper end of the control slot 102, defined within the control link 100, to the far right end of the control slot 102, as the various links move from their substantially vertically oriented positions as il-lustrated within FIGURES 1,1a,5,8,9, and11 , to their substantially horizontally ori-ented positions as illustrated within FIGURES 3,4, and 7.

Thus, it may be seen that, in accordance with the teachings and prin-ciples of the present invention, a new and improved lift and recliner chair has been described which comprises, among other unique features, an internal framework, an external framework, and two motor actuators. The first motor actuator moves the chair to its lift assist position as well as the actuation of the footrest unit. The sec- ond motor actuator controls the movement of the back unit of the chair. The footrest unit can be locked in its CLOSED position, for safety reasons, when the chair is moved to its lift assist position. In addition, the chair comprises oppositely disposed structural systems incorporated within each one of the opposite sides of the chair, and the rear portion of each structural system has a dependent bracket which en-gages top and external side portions or faces of laterally spaced tubes, which form parts of the chair base assembly or external framework, so as to effectively provide the chair with enhanced stability, particularly when an occupant is seated within the chair and also during actuation of either one of the first and second motor actuat-ors. Still further, the internal framework effectively includes an upper framework unit and a lower framework unit wherein mounting tabs of the upper framework unit are fixedly connected to mounting brackets of the lower framework unit such that the weight of the upper framework unit can be easily, securely, stably, and safely sup-ported upon the lower framework unit.

Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

claims WHAT IS CLAIMED AS NEW AND DESIRED TO BE PROTECTED BY LETTERS PATENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IS:

1 . A lift and recliner chair capable of achieving various positions, comprising:

an external framework for supporting said lift and recliner chair upon a support surface;

an internal framework, to which upholstered units of said lift and re-cliner chair, including a back unit, a seat unit, and a footrest unit, are attached, and wherein said internal framework is connected to said external framework for moving said lift and recliner chair and said upholstered units of said lift and recliner chair to various positions including a CLOSED position at which said back unit is disposed at an upright position, and said footrest unit is disposed at a CLOSED, non-extend-ed position; and

a pair of oppositely disposed landing links dependently attached to said internal framework for engaging oppositely disposed sides of said external framework when said lift and recliner chair is disposed at said CLOSED position so as to provide said lift and recliner chair with enhanced stability when said lift and recliner chair is disposed at said CLOSED position.

2. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein:

said external framework comprises a transversely extending rear tube, a transversely extending front tube disposed substantially parallel to said transversely extending rear tube, and a pair of longitudinally extending side tubes extending

substantially parallel to each other and connecting said rear tube and said front tube together.

3. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 2, wherein:

each one of said landing links comprises a horizontally oriented con-tact tab for respectively engaging a top surface portion of one of said side tubes, and a vertically oriented stabilizer tab for respectively engaging an outer side sur-face of one of said side tubes.

4. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein:

said lift and recliner chair is capable of attaining five different position-al modes.

5. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 4, wherein:

a first one of said five different positional modes of said lift and reclin-er chairs comprises a CLOSED position at which said back unit is disposed at an upright position while said footrest unit is disposed at a non-extended CLOSED po-sition, a second one of said five different positional modes comprises said back unit disposed at a reclined position while said footrest unit is disposed at said non-ex-tended CLOSED

position, a third one of said five different positional modes corn-prises said back unit disposed at said upright position while said footrest unit is dis-posed at an extended,

OPEN position, a fourth one of said five different positional modes comprises said back unit disposed at said reclined position while said foot-rest unit is disposed at said extended, OPEN position, and a fifth one of said five different positional modes comprises said back unit disposed at said upright posi-tion, said footrest unit disposed at said non-extended

CLOSED position, and said chair is disposed at a LIFT ASSIST position at which said seat unit of said lift and recliner chair is elevated and tilted forwardly.

6. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 5, wherein said lift and recliner chair further comprises:

a pair of motor actuators for moving said back unit, said seat unit, and said footrest unit of said lift and recliner chair between said five different positional modes.

7. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 6, wherein:

said pair of motor actuators comprise first and second motor actuators which are separate and independent from each other; and

wherein said first motor actuator is utilized to control said footrest unit so as to move said footrest unit between said non-extended CLOSED position and said extended OPEN position, as well as to move said lift and recliner chair be-tween said LIFT ASSIST position and said CLOSED position, and said second motor actuator is utilized to control said back unit between said upright position and said reclined position.

8. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 7, further comprising:

a pair of oppositely disposed four-bar linkage systems pivotally con-nected to said external framework and to which said first motor actuator is opera-tively connected so as to easily move said lift and recliner chair between said CLOSED position and said LIFT ASSIST position.

9. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 8, further comprising:

a pair of oppositely disposed extension link systems, each one of which comprises four extension links, operatively connected to said first motor actuator for moving said footrest unit between said non-extended CLOSED position and said extended OPEN position.

10. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 9, wherein said mechanism, in-corporated within said internal framework, for locking said footrest unit at said non-extended CLOSED position when said lift and reciiner chair is moved to said LIFT ASSIST position, comprises:

a lift/footrest control pin, pivotally connected to one of said four exten-sion links comprising each one of said pair of oppositely disposed extension link systems; and a pair of oppositely disposed lift/footrest lock links, each one of which has a hooked end portion for respectively engaging said lift/footrest control pin so as to prevent said footrest from being moved from said non-extended CLOSED po-sition to said extended OPEN position when said lift and reciiner chair is disposed at said LIFT ASSIST position.

11 . A lift and reciiner chair capable of achieving various positions, comprising:

an external framework for supporting said lift and reciiner chair upon a support surface;

an internal framework, to which upholstered units of said lift and re-cliner chair, including a back unit, a seat unit, and a footrest unit, are attached, and wherein said internal framework is connected to said external framework for moving said upholstered units of said lift and reciiner chair to various positions including a first LIFT ASSIST

position at which said back unit is disposed at an upright posi-tion, said footrest unit is disposed at a non-extended CLOSED position, and said seat unit is disposed at an elevated position and tilted forwardly, and a second po-sition at which said footrest is disposed at an extended OPEN position; and

a mechanism, incorporated within said internal framework, for locking said footrest unit at said CLOSED position when said lift and reciiner chair is moved to said LIFT ASSIST position.

12. The lift and reciiner chair as set forth in Claim 11 , further comprising:

a first motor actuator operatively connected to said internal framework for moving said lift and reciiner chair between said CLOSED position, at which said back unit is disposed at an upright position and said footrest unit is disposed at a CLOSED position, and said LIFT ASSIST position at which said back unit is dis-posed at said upright position, said footrest unit is disposed at said CLOSED posi-tion, and said seat unit of said lift and reciiner chair is disposed at an elevated posi-tion and tilted forwardly.

13. The lift and reciiner chair as set forth in Claim 12, further comprising:

a pair of oppositely disposed extension link systems, each one of which comprises four extension links, operatively connected to said first motor actu-ator for moving said footrest unit between said non-extended CLOSED position and said extended OPEN position.

14. The lift and reciiner chair as set forth in Claim 13, wherein said mechanism, in-corporated within said internal framework, for locking said footrest unit at said non-extended CLOSED position when said lift and reciiner chair is moved to said LIFT ASSIST position, comprises:

a lift/footrest control pin, pivotally connected to one of said four exten-sion links comprising each one of said pair of oppositely disposed extension link

systems; and

a pair of oppositely disposed lift/footrest lock links, each one of which has a hooked end portion for respectively engaging said lift/footrest control pin so as to prevent said footrest from being moved between said non-extended CLOSED position and said extended OPEN position when said lift and reciiner chair is dis-posed at said LIFT ASSIST position.

15. The lift and reciiner chair as set forth in Claim 12, further comprising:

a second motor actuator operatively connected to said internal frame-work for moving said back unit between an upright position and a reclined position.

16. A lift and reciiner chair capable of achieving various positions, comprising:

an internal framework, to which upholstered units of said lift and re-cliner chair, including a back unit, a seat unit, and a footrest unit, are attached, wherein said internal framework is effectively divided into an upper framework unit and a lower framework unit;

a pair of mounting brackets/flanged members fixedly mounted upon said lower framework unit of said internal framework; and

a plurality of mounting tabs fixedly mounted upon said upper frame-work unit for attachment to said mounting brackets/flanged members of said lower framework unit whereby said upper framework unit, along with said back unit, said seat unit, and said footrest unit, can be fixedly, securely, stably mounted, and sup-ported upon said lower framework unit.

17. The lift and reciiner chair as set forth in Claim 16, wherein:

18. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 16, wherein:

a first motor actuator is operatively connected to said internal frame-work for moving said lift and recliner chair between a CLOSED position, at which said back unit is disposed at an upright position and said footrest unit is disposed at a CLOSED position, and a LIFT ASSIST position at which said back unit is dispos-ed at said upright position, said footrest unit is disposed at said CLOSED position, and said seat unit of said lift and recliner chair is disposed at an elevated position and is tilted forwardly; and

said lower framework unit comprises a pair of oppositely disposed four-bar linkage systems comprising four linkage members, to which one of said four-bar linkage members said pair of mounting brackets/flanged members are at-tached, pivotally connected to said external framework and to which said motor actuator is operatively connected so as to easily move said lift and recliner chair between said CLOSED position and said LIFT ASSIST position.

19. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 16, wherein:

said lower framework unit comprises a pair of oppositely disposed back brackets for mounting said back unit of said lift and recliner chair, seat mount-ing brackets for mounting said seat unit of said lift and recliner chair, and a plurality of

extension/contraction links operatively connected to said footrest unit for moving said footrest unit of said lift and recliner chair between non-extended CLOSED and extended OPEN positions.

20. The lift and recliner chair as set forth in Claim 18, further comprising: a second motor actuator operatively connected to said internal frame-work for moving said back unit between an upright position and a reclined position.