Patent ID: 9149120
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
1. A reclining mechanism for an item of furniture, the reclining mechanism comprising: a pair of linkage units, each linkage unit comprising a first arm adapted to be secured to a stationary part of an item of furniture and a second arm adapted to be secured to a reclining part of the item of furniture for moving the reclining part between upright and reclined positions; wherein the first and the second arms are connected to each other at their first ends to pivot with respect to each other about a first pivot axis; the linkage units being spaced apart from each other so that their first pivot axes are collinear; wherein a spring biased ratchet arrangement is provided between the first and the second arms adjacent the first pivot axis; wherein the linkage units are connected by a pivot bar pivotable about a second pivot axis substantially parallel to the first pivot axes; wherein the pivot bar is connected at its ends to the ratchet arrangement of each linkage unit; and wherein the pivot bar is pivotable about the second pivot axis by a lever, the pivot bar being operable to disengage the ratchet arrangement; wherein in a first mode of operation of the reclining mechanism, the ratchet arrangement is bias loaded and is engaged with the first and the second arms of the linkage unit so that the second arm is prevented from rotation about the first pivot axis in a first direction from an upright to a reclined position while remaining rotatable in a second opposite direction from a reclined position to an upright position; and wherein in a second mode of operation the lever is actuated, whereby the pivot bar is pivoted about the second pivot axis thereby releasing the ratchet arrangement from the bias load thereby releasing the second arm so that the second arm is free to rotate about the first pivot axis between upright and reclined positions.